NFL BULLYING IS NO LONGER INCOGNITO
Since I wrote my previous column, we have learned more about the Jonathan Martin situation in Miami. Most of it has not been good.
We learned that there was one person at the heart of the issue. That person should not be a surprise to anybody. Reportedly, it is Richie Incognito. Incognito is a self-admitted troubled guy, who has not been a stranger to being in trouble while in the National Football League.
Incognito has been a bad dude for many years. He was suspended way back in college numerous times for violating team rules and fighting at Nebraska. He then transferred to Oregon but then-coach Mike Bellotti kicked him off the team a week later, because Incognito didn’t live up to his part of the transfer agreement.
Despite being labeled as “undraftable” by many NFL GM’s due to character concerns, it was on to the NFL in 2005 for Incognito–drafted in the 3rd round by the Rams.
Once in the NFL, Incognito showed talent, but also problems. Reported partying led to injuries for him off the field. Drug and alcohol problems led to fights and problems as well. Incognito was also recognized by his fellow players for being a wackjob: he was voted the NFL’s dirtiest player in 2009–a club that he became a charter member in.
The Rams had enough in 2009 and cut ties with Incognito. He was claimed on waivers in December by the Buffalo Bills, of all teams. He started the final three games of 2009 on the Bills, but they didn’t bring him back in 2010. He signed on instead with the Dolphins, where he is today.
Incognito won’t be there much longer. The Miami Herald is reporting that according to sources, it is only a matter of time before the Dolphins cut ties with Incognito as well. I can’t say that I blame them. It will be hard for Incognito to get another job in the league after this, mainly due to his track record.
As for what he did, you have heard the voicemail. You have heard the text quote. You have read the tweets. I am not going to go into them. I will just say that it was disgusting. You don’t say that to any other human being, jokingly or seriously. It’s not right and he deserves to have repercussions. That is not what’s bothering me here.
What is ticking me off the most in this case, is the lack of support for Jonathan Martin.
This poor kid.
Martin had Richie Incognito as a bullying ringleader. Incognito is a bully, only in this case, he is also a veteran NFL lineman, who was completely capable of intimidating other young, big men, both black and white, and getting them on his side. They all in turn, began to make poor Jonathan Martin’s life a living hell under the guise of “hazing”.
What else can we believe at this point? At least that is what I glean from it. What is truly surprising to me is that it seems that everyone you are hearing from keeps saying what a great guy Richie Incognito is. How well liked he is and has been by other offensive linemen, players on the team and Dolphin coaches. Nobody seems to be condemning him. No one seems to be saying how badly they feel for Jonathan Martin.
If anything, I get the feeling that most Dolphins are going to BLAME Jonathan Martin in this. They may not say it to the media, but I bet behind closed doors, they are saying to each other that Martin is a total pusscake. They are saying how weak minded he is. They are probably saying he doesn’t have a backbone. They are also probably saying how they don’t want to ever line up next to him on their team anymore.
That is the real tragedy here. Incognito’s days as a Miami Dolphin are most likely over. His NFL career may follow. I’m afraid that the career of Jonathan Martin may be over as well because of this. That is sad.
The media is also playing up the racial aspect of this, because of Incognito’s use of the N-word against Martin. From what I gather, that doesn’t mean jack squat. Race had little to do with this. Black teammates are supporting Incognito as much or more than his white teammates. No, this is a simple case of bullying, which is proving that bullying doesn’t end on the schoolyards.
It should not be tolerated in any profession.
I don’t know how this is going to end, or what the final ramifications will be here. All I know is that I have a new guy to root for in professional sports, and that is Jonathan Martin.
