By Sunday 
There are rookie traditions in the NFL… and then there are rookie traditions that make you question every financial decision you’ve ever made. Just ask three first-year wide receivers from the Detroit Lions.
What was supposed to be a simple team dinner quickly turned into a full-blown panic session — all thanks to an “Expensive Prank” orchestrated by none other than All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
When Rookie Dues Hit Hard
Rookies Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, and Jackson Meeks thought they were simply paying their dues the traditional way — by treating the receiver room to dinner ahead of the Lions’ final regular-season game.
The venue? Detroit’s upscale steakhouse, Sexy Steak.
The mood? Relaxed… at first.
Then St. Brown started asking servers a dangerous question: “What’s the most expensive thing on the menu?”
A $41,466 Moment of Pure Panic
When the bill arrived, the number staring back at the rookies was downright terrifying: $41,466.
According to TeSlaa, the table went silent. The three rookies locked eyes, already imagining awkward phone calls with their credit card companies and explanations that would sound absolutely ridiculous.
“And so then they bring out the bill, and it says $41,000. And me, Dom, and Meeks are looking around at each other like, ‘How are we going to cover this?’”
That’s not rookie hazing — that’s emotional damage.
The Reveal: An Expensive Prank, Not an Expensive Reality
Thankfully, before anyone’s financial future was ruined, the truth came out.
The massive bill was fake.
The real total? Around $4,000, split between the three rookies — still expensive, but very survivable by NFL standards. The stress instantly melted into laughter as it became clear this was all St. Brown pulling the strings.
Crisis averted. Credit cards spared. Lesson learned.
A Lions Tradition With History
If this prank felt extreme, it’s because Lions rookie dinners have a reputation. Just last year, first-round pick Terrion Arnold reportedly rang up a jaw-dropping $102,400 bill at the same restaurant.
Compared to that? This year’s “Expensive Prank” was almost merciful.
Why This Matters Beyond the Laughs
Moments like this say a lot about the Lions’ locker room. There’s accountability, tradition, and just enough humor to keep things loose. For TeSlaa — a Michigan native and lifelong Lions fan — it’s all part of a rookie season that saw him grow into the team’s third receiver by year’s end.
Six touchdowns later, a near-heart-attack at dinner might just be one of his favorite rookie memories.
And for future Lions rookies? Maybe double-check your credit limit before dinner with Amon-Ra.