ALLEN PARK — Other guys get a haircut, Nate Burleson takes a poll first.

The Lions wide receiver had his dreads shaved off on Thursday prior to the Lions first preseason game.

“It was pretty spontaneous,’’ Burleson said on Sunday. “I actually took a poll. I asked 12 guys what I should do, it was 8-4 in cutting it off. I decided to go to the barbershop and get rid of them.'' 

And here’s the clincher ... “They’re still in the bag in my car — depending on my season, they might go on eBay.’’

Patrick Edwards, who has dreads, wanted the 31-year-old Burleson to keep them.

“The older guys, the vets, the true professionals told me it’s about that time,’’ Burleson said. “Tully (Stephen Tulloch) looked me sincerely in my eyes and said, ‘Nate come on now if you have a future in broadcasting you can’t have dreads.’’’

Burleson, who is coming off a broken leg suffered in October, has attended the NFL bootcamp for aspiring broadcasters. He did some work in the offseason on the NFL Network and ESPN

He’s also promoting his own line of Lions gear called “LionBlood.’’

But most importantly he still has a job with the Lions.

At Friday’s preseason game, Burleson was one of four players who went out for the coin toss. Captains haven’t been selected yet, so this was an honor chosen by the coaches.

He’s clearly a leader on and off the field.

“I think we well documented how much we missed him last year when he got hurt. Unlike other guys that maybe hurt an ankle, break a bone, or do something like that — his rehab and everything, he couldn’t even be around, he couldn’t even walk around for a long time.,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said.

 “So we not only missed him on the field, but we also missed him in the locker room, in the training room, in the meeting rooms, things like that. It means an awful lot to us, and it’s not just because he’s a good guy and he’s a good leader, cause he’s still a good player,’’ Schwartz added.

A good player, with a new look.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)