Andrew Farrell had a fine 2013 rookie season for the New England Revolution.
The 21-year-old University of Louisville product, taken No. 1 overall in last year's SuperDraft, started 32 of 34 league games for arguably MLS's most surprising playoff-qualifying team.
Farrell is generally thought to have a very bright future as a right back, with perhaps a shot at the US national team one day.
One thing Farrell has yet to achieve in his career, though -- which, remember, is still pretty short -- is putting a "bulge in the old onion bag," to borrow from Tommy Smyth. He hasn't scored his first professional goal despite coming particularly close on one occasion, only to be denied by a spectacular kick save by the San Jose Earthquakes' Jon Busch.
So this year, Farrell tells RevolutionSoccer.net (above video) that he's going all Tom Huddlestone on us. Thanks to a bet with his brother, he'll will not be shaving his beard, which after just six weeks is already looking quite stout, until he scores his first professional goal.
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He is allowed, however, to trim certain parts of the upper cheeks and neck to keep things nice and tidy, to avoid looking like a straggly vagrant.
Nothing against the Revs — or Farrell in particular, because he seems like a great guy — but let's let this thing play out for a while. Let's just see what he looks like in October 2014.
That said, the following question begs asking: Is this a smart move by a player who's a defender by nature, and a right back at that?
