Rams' William Hayes: 'I don't believe dinosaurs existed'

William Hayes has a bone to pick with paleontologists about the existence of dinosaurs.

According to teammate and friend Chris Long, St. Louis Rams defensive end Hayes doesn't believe dinosaurs ever existed.

"He thinks archaeologists place bones underground like a parent would place Easter eggs," Long said earlier this season, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"They just planted them. It's some large conspiracy. He does not believe that dinosaurs ever existed and he thinks that mermaids are real. I love dinosaurs, so we have a big point of contention."

Hayes went on to explain the beliefs in his own words:

"No, I don't believe dinosaurs existed," Hayes said last month. "Not even a little bit. With these bones, it's crazy because man has never seen a dinosaur, we can agree on that, right? But we know exactly how to put these bones together?

"I don't understand how (Long) just believes in dinosaurs. That's just crazy to me. We know they died. We know what a T-Rex eats? That don't sound crazy to you? We have never seen a dinosaur before but we know exactly where every single rib (was) and which rib goes where. That's crazy to me."

But mermaids? Now that's a concept the defensive end can get behind.

"I believe there is more of a chance you will find a mermaid than you will a dinosaur, because we find different species in the water all the time."

So no trips to the museum for this pair.

- With h/t to UPROXX