Dolphins players accused of bullying teammates

[WrongVerb]

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Almost the ENTIRE Miami Dolphins team accused of bullying: Veteran stars 'made younger players subsidize their luxury lifestyle and fund $30,000 dinners and trips to Vegas'

[traderumor]

The smoke signals I'm reading are this: some player (Incognito---oh the irony of the name for this story) has developed a self-serving gang, Martin refused to go along, they were relentless in their emotional and verbal abuse, he is sensitive and not used to such childish behavior, and couldn't take it anymore. The rest of the rookies have been convinced this is "normal," so they play along.

Incognito Twitter translation: "Whatever they said, its not true."

I think Incognito and his posse's favorite movie is likely "North Dallas Forty."

[Redsfaithful]

Reading rumors of rookies getting stuck with $30k team dinner bills, which is ridiculous. The rookie rate is like $400k, you take out agent/lawyer fees, taxes and a $30k night is probably 1/7 of their yearly take home.

Interesting that Martin is Stanford educated and his parents are highly educated. Meanwhile, on that line, you have Incognito with a horrible reputation and Pouncey who ran with Aaron Hernandez.

Jason Whitlock made the point that you used to be able to settle this sort of thing with fists, now you don't know if the other guy might have a gun - which sounds pretty accurate with Pouncey.

[kaldaniels]

As a Cleveland fan I can't stand the Steelers or Tomlin...but this blurb made me respect the man.

“When I was in Pittsburgh,’’ Colon said, “Mike Tomlin said something great: It’s unfair to make a sixth-round guy pay for a $15,000 trip to Vegas when you have your starting linemen making over two-point-something million [dollars]. [Martin was a second-round pick.] He doesn’t have that money. Guys don’t earn that money until later in their careers. To make a young guy pay that is very unfair, and it’s selfish because that man has a family and people and other needs. So to take $15,000 out of any young guy’s pocket for a trip to get crazy is unfair, and it’s selfish. If you want to let a guy pay for dinner or a night on the town, that’s fine. It’s nothing that should hurt a man’s life or his way of living; that’s disrespectful.’’

http://mmqb.si.com/2013/11/04/gary-k...quarterback/7/

[Boston Red]

Martin sounds like kind of a wuss.

[Patrick Bateman]

Martin sounds like kind of a wuss.

Cool Richie's Dad posts on Redszone too!

[Wonderful Monds]

Cool Richie's Dad posts on Redszone too!

I think Cool Richie got killed on Boardwalk Empire last night.

[Chip R]

I haven't heard all the details about this but it sure sounds like a whole lot more than having to pay 15K for a trip to Vegas.

[chicoruiz]

Martin sounds like kind of a wuss.

Nope, in my book the wusses are the rookies who let the veterans take 15k out of their pocket without standing up and saying something about it...

[MWM]

If this all turns out to be true, the most interesting thing might be how Goodell decides to address it. It may be treated the same as the bounty scandal in New Orleans, but I could see him coming down hard on those involved.

Forcing them to pay that kind of money for anything is ridiculous, and I don't care how much the rookie got at signing. Make them carry your equipment, or other such things. But taking money out of their pocket, regardless of how much it is, is just wrong.

I have a feeling when we learn everything that happened, it's not going to be pretty.

[WVRed]

If this all turns out to be true, the most interesting thing might be how Goodell decides to address it. It may be treated the same as the bounty scandal in New Orleans, but I could see him coming down hard on those involved.

I have nothing personal against the Miami Dolphins, but I really think Goodell should come down hard on them and the players involved for this reason:

Bullying is a real issue, not just in the NFL but in schools all across the country. Think of the high school or middle school kids who watch ESPN and are impressionable enough to think Richie Incognito is a role model and Jonathan Martin is a wuss. Even though we as adults see things differently, with children and teenagers it isn't as cut and dry. The NFL needs to send a message that shows a zero tolerance for bullying, similar to the Saints with the bounties. If not, you're sending a message to kids that bullying is ok and there are no consequences if you do it.

[Chip R]

I have nothing personal against the Miami Dolphins, but I really think Goodell should come down hard on them and the players involved for this reason:

Bullying is a real issue, not just in the NFL but in schools all across the country. Think of the high school or middle school kids who watch ESPN and are impressionable enough to think Richie Incognito is a role model and Jonathan Martin is a wuss. Even though we as adults see things differently, with children and teenagers it isn't as cut and dry. The NFL needs to send a message that shows a zero tolerance for bullying, similar to the Saints with the bounties. If not, you're sending a message to kids that bullying is ok and there are no consequences if you do it.

I'm a Dolphins fan and the whole thing makes me sick. However this is new ground for the NFL. They have to define what bullying is. If bullying is being made to contribute 15K to a trip to Vegas, then shouldn't being made to buy dinner for some vets the same thing? Is being told to carry practice dummies bullying? Sing the school song? Where do you draw the line? And when you do draw that line, what is acceptable punishment? Who do you punish? The player in question? The team? Is it a fine? Loss of draft choice(s)?

It's tricky also because even though Martin came forward, will others? If they do, are they going to be ostracized by teammates and/or coaches? In Martin's case, it's doubtful he'll play for MIA again. Are other GMs going to take a chance on him? Will they be reluctant to sign him because they worry that if anyone looks sideways at Martin he's going to holler about bullying? I seriously doubt Incognito will play in the NFL again so the most you could do is fine him. What about the other players? Incognito is getting all the blame but you have to think he hasn't acted alone. This whole thing was reportedly set up because all the linemen left when Martin went to sit down with them. Maybe all that was Incognito's idea but the others didn't have to go along with it. I'm not saying Martin is to blame but why did he take this so long without standing up for himself? Was he worried about all the other linemen who followed Incognito? I know he didn't want to be a snitch but you have to stand up for yourself too.

[Yachtzee]

I'm a Dolphins fan and the whole thing makes me sick. However this is new ground for the NFL. They have to define what bullying is. If bullying is being made to contribute 15K to a trip to Vegas, then shouldn't being made to buy dinner for some vets the same thing? Is being told to carry practice dummies bullying? Sing the school song? Where do you draw the line? And when you do draw that line, what is acceptable punishment? Who do you punish? The player in question? The team? Is it a fine? Loss of draft choice(s)?

It's tricky also because even though Martin came forward, will others? If they do, are they going to be ostracized by teammates and/or coaches? In Martin's case, it's doubtful he'll play for MIA again. Are other GMs going to take a chance on him? Will they be reluctant to sign him because they worry that if anyone looks sideways at Martin he's going to holler about bullying? I seriously doubt Incognito will play in the NFL again so the most you could do is fine him. What about the other players? Incognito is getting all the blame but you have to think he hasn't acted alone. This whole thing was reportedly set up because all the linemen left when Martin went to sit down with them. Maybe all that was Incognito's idea but the others didn't have to go along with it. I'm not saying Martin is to blame but why did he take this so long without standing up for himself? Was he worried about all the other linemen who followed Incognito? I know he didn't want to be a snitch but you have to stand up for yourself too.

I think the reason Incognito is the only one suspended so far is that they had pretty clear evidence based on voicemail and texts that he was going well beyond what is considered playful messing with the rookies and harsh bullying. It's one thing to make rookies sing a fight song or wear a Hello Kitty backpack on a road trip. But making rookies pay for extravagant trips and dinners they didn't go to and then harrassing them by phone and text is something else. That seems less like an initiation into being part of the gang and more like the playground bully who takes your lunch money and threatens to beat you up if you don't bring more next time.

So far we don't know who else might have been involved, so it would be premature for the Dolphins and the league to hand out more suspensions until they know more. It's important to make sure they determine the extent of the harrassment, who was involved and what was the extent of the involvement. In any case, I think the Dolphins are going to have to seriously examine the culture in the clubhouse and make some serious changes. I think the NFL is going to have to put guidelines in place to deal with future incidents. I doubt Incognito is suspended permanently because an arbitrator would likely overturn it. I think his suspension lasts until the investigation is completed, then the Dolphins decide whether to set a defined suspension or just cut him so that he can sign with a new team. It's going to be tougher for Martin. He will likely find it difficult to stay with the Dolphins, and it may take a team with strong veteran leadership willing to take him in under their wing. I get the feeling Incognito will be back on the field before Martin is.

[The Operator]

I get the feeling Incognito will be back on the field before Martin is.

After reading those racially charged text messages, I bet there won't be many African American players in the game who'd be willing to have his back.

He may get a job, but hopefully he'll have hell to pay for his behavior no matter where he goes.

[Redsfaithful]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 11m

NFL has heard Richie Incognito's VM to Jonathan Martin. Dolphins have heard the voice mail.

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Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 12m

4. Incognito to Martin, all on same VM in April 2013: "(Expletive) you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."

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Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 12m

3. Incognito VM to Martin: "(I'm going to) slap your (expletive) mouth. (I'm going to) slap your real mother across the face (laughter).

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Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 13m

2. More Incognito to Martin: "I saw you on Twitter, you been training ten weeks. (I want to) (expletive) in your (expl) mouth....

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Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 14m

1: Richie Incognito left this VM for Jonathan Martin in April 2013: "Hey, wassup, you half n----- piece of (expletive)...