Incognito and Martin: When Joking Becomes Bullying

Zoe Berling: What Went Wrong

Football is a sport where the players are expected to be both physically and mentally tough. However, where is the line between traditional hazing and personal attacks?


Richie Incognito was suspended indefinitely by the Miami Dolphins following allegations of misconduct. Jonathan Martin on the Miami Dolphins, decided to leave the team because he felt bullied. He identifies Richie Incognito as the source of his mistreatment.

Taken by Bob Brown for Jones News 2013. Martin, formally a tackler for the Miami Dolphins returned home for emotional refuge. 

According to various sources, the reason that Martin decided to leave the Dolphins was a prank gone too far. When Martin tried to join his team mates, they picked up their trays and left him sitting alone. Apparently Incognito was the mastermind behind this prank. But this isn't the most serious of Incognito's actions against Martin. A series of voicemails for Martin from Incognito have sparked controversy because of their threatening and racially charged content. In one, Incognito is heard threatening Martin's life. He also is quoted in using racial slurs in these messages.
The message, according to ESPN's sources:

 "Hey, wassup, you half (expletive) piece of (expletive). "I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. I'll (expletive) in your (expletive) mouth. I'm gonna slap your (expletive) mouth, I'm gonna slap your real mother across the face (laughter). (Expletive) you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."

Incognito could become the face of bullying in America

Chris Perkins points out in his blog that the Dolphins are taking Martin's side.  In suspending Incognito, they are basically saying that Martin was treated poorly.  By looking at Incognito's past, it is difficult for people to believe that he was just joking with his team mate. His history of aggression dates back to his college days. USA Today reported this week that he bullied his teammate until he stormed off the field. Incognito also was denied a spot on three different team during his career for various reasons. In 2009, he was voted “the dirtiest player” by The Sporting News in a poll of 99 players. All this information and more can be found in Eric Edholm's blog on Yahoo.com

Photo credit to Jane Greenberg of Getty Images 2013. Richie Incognito deals with the aftermath of the Martin's accusations

Paolo Bandini's opinion is that this incident brings light a the hazing problem that needs to be addressed by the NFL in general. Martin's case shows how this was taken too far.  Incognito and Martin's relationship shows a cultural problem within football that is hurtful to its players.


A$$hole or Scapegoat

Not everyone places all the blame on Incognito.  Lydon Murtha writes that while some of Incognito's actions were wrong, he is not at fault.  While the executives of the Dolphins are quick to place blame on Incognito, not all of his team mates think that he was a bully.  According to Armando Salguero, Richie was considered an honorary black, and therefore his racial slurs were meant as a sign of friendship, not aggression.

NFL Locker Room Culture Promotes Bullying

Miami Dolphins Player Richie Incognito accused of Bullying
Jonathan Martin leaves the team for derogatory and offensive "locker room culture"

Richie Incognito of the Miami Dolphins

(Jane Greenberg/Getty Images)

There are many mixed emotions concerning the recent Miami Dolphins incident involving Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin. Martin recently left the team after allegedly receiving hazing and bullying that went too far, saying he was unable to be a part of locker room culture that promotes such a harsh exchange of words. Incognito has been indefinitely suspended from the Dolphins because of this scandal.

Richie Incognito recently spoke with Jay Glazer about his actions.

Locker Room Culture

Incognito talks openly about his past as a selfish and intolerable teammate in the locker room. He acknowledges that his past actions were unsatisfactory, and claims he is a much better person now thanks to a lot of counseling and guidance from friends and family. He believes that his actions in the locker room were healthy and meant in good sportsmanship, and that Martin has blown the incident out of proportion. He even says that Martin was his best friend on the team and his actions were simply a product of NFL culture.

Incognito: "No matter how bad and how vulgar it sounds, that's how we communicate, that's how our friendship was."

Jonathan Martin has yet to speak publicly about this scandal

(Courtesy of the NFL)

"I am not a racist"

A big part of this story revolves around a racially charged voicemail that Incognito sent Martin one day. This, combined with the way Incognito talks in the locker room, has prompted many people to label Incognito as a racist.

However, Incognito has stated that he understands how his message may sound racist out of context, but that he is not and the message wasn't supposed to be taken seriously.

Something Needs To Change

The NFL has been in the news time and time again for stories about hazing and bullying. But Christopher Gasper from the Boston Globe has a message for the NFL and the public:

"Instead of questioning a culture that condones hazing, the reflex reaction of many immersed in that culture is to question the toughness of the alleged victim."

Globe is in favor of a complete makeover of the NFL policies and behaviors towards locker room bullying. 

Defending Incognito

Many fans and teammates still stand by Incognito's side through this whole event. At games, some fans have even held up signs to show their support. 

Miami Dolphins teammates are also standing by him, and wonder why Martin reacted so harshly.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is defending both the players, but his main question is how the incident has come this far. He says that the two players were best friends, and that Incognito was a great teammate.

Chime In

Take this poll and voice your opinion on whether or not Incognito should be permanently suspended.

Leave your comments below and tell us what you think about this scandal!

NFL story

Where is the line between Hazing and Bullying in the NFL?

Jonathan Martin leaves Miami Dolphins after claims of being bullied by teammate Richie Incognito.
by Mina Younossi

The recent controversy has urged the NFL to take a step back and reevaluate the notion of what is and isn’t acceptable behavior among teammates. Rookie Jonathan Martin left the team after claiming that he had been “bullied”. He said that teammate, offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who’s had a history of violent and unsportsman like behavior, left him threatening voicemails and referred to him using racial slurs. The story caught light and caused a roar of different opinions, ranging from “disgusting” to the “norm.”

Jonathan Martin during a game. Bob Brown/Jones News 

Adam Robinson wrote, “Hazing is fine with me, to an extent.”” What happened to Martin over the past year and a half, though, is classic bullying of a grown man.” He as well as many other people believe that the term “locker room culture” has been coined as a way of turning a blind eye to the unacceptable dialogue and treatment among players in the NFL. Due to Martin’s history of being a “bully” many find it hard to believe that he is anything other than just that. Former New York Jets player Bart Scott called Incognito the "dirtiest player" he's every played against.

“Locker room culture” to blame

Others put less of the blame on Incognito and say that the culture of the Dolphins' locker room to blame. James Walker, a blogger for ESPN, stated, “Regardless of what side you're on, here is something everyone should be able to agree on: The Dolphins' culture is broken. This is a locker room with no decorum or code of conduct. There are no standards, and Dolphins players went overboard.” Walker said that the teams general manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Joe Philbin “failed to set a tone of what was not acceptable in Miami’s locker room.”

Richie Incognito apologizes and defends his actions in an exclusive interview with Jay Glazer.

Teammates defend Incognito

Richie Incognito before a game. Jim Wildman/AP

Despite all of the negative press surrounding Incognito, many say that the use of racial slurs in the locker room is a “norm” for the player’s and expresses their comfort with each other. They say that Incognito’s uses of the words don’t mean that he’s a racist and that is why his teammates haven’t turned against him. ESPN analyst and former Dolphins wide receiver Cris Carter said, in regards to the team members, “They think it’s sad, not only that Jonathan’s not on the football team, but also that Richie is being depicted as a bigot and as a racist.” 

What are your thoughts on the story? Tweet us your comments and opinions @Mina'sBlog.

Richie Incognito Suspended over Harassment Allegations

Incognito Says He Was Treating Martin as a Brother and a Teammate
By Aaron Marks

The Miami Dolphins suspended Richie Incognito after repeated allegations that he harassed teammate Jonathan Martin. Martin left team facilities a few days before, citing emotional issues.

Over the next few days, several outlets reported that Incognito had bullied Martin on a several occasions. The most egregious examples occurred when Incognito threatened Martin and his family, and even called Martin a racial epithet in one voice mail message.

Dolphins Guard Richie Incognito is accused of
taking hazing rituals too far on teammate.
Jonathan Martin (Jim Waldman/AP)

More Attention Turned to NFL Locker Room Culture

It has become apparent that this is not an isolated incident. Many people are now turning their attention to the pervasiveness of bullying and hazing in all NFL locker rooms around the league. On FOX NFL Kickoff, Former NFL players Randy Moss, Ronde Barber, and Brendon Ayanbadejo discussed how Incognito's behavior was nothing out of the usual for an NFL player.


Former players Barber, Moss, and Ayanbadejo discuss incognito's behavior on FOX NFL Sunday.

Even some of Incognito's black teammates were very accepting of his behavior. In fact, one player referred to him as an "honorary" black person. He told The Miami Herald, "I don't expect you to understand because you're not black. But being a black guy, being a brother is more than just about skin color. It's about how you carry yourself."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2013/11/richie-incognito-considered-black-in-dolphins-locker-room.html#storylink=cpy

In a recent interview with FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, Incognito defended himself on some of these grounds. He told Glazer that he did not intend to hurt Martin, and he was treating him the same way he would treat any other teammate.


Incognito defends himself in an interview with FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.

NFL, Dolphins Worried about Image

Whether or not Incognito's behavior was normal for NFL locker room culture, both the league and the Miami Dolphins organization is not taking the situation lightly. A source close to the team said that Incognito would never play for the team again. They are planning on cutting him as soon as possible. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed an independent investigator to examine the full extent of NFL locker room behavior.

However, the implications for football in the U.S. may be more severe. Many parents are already steering their children away from football amid growing fear of head injuries. Now that more light has been shed on NFL locker room hazing, Americans' perception of football as a sport are not going to get any better.

Offensive Tackle Martin says Incognito's
treatment crossed the line.
(Kevin Leahy/Miami Herald)

As for Martin, he says he is not willing to play for the Dolphins again. He says he does not blame Incognito for his departure, but rather the entire Dolphins team. He plans on resuming his career in the NFL next season.

Do you think Incognito should have been suspended? Does this action merely make him a scapegoat for a larger problem. Comment below.

Incognito Interview has Mixed Response

Richie Incognito talks about the alleged bullying of Jonathan Martin, Nov. 10. The interview has sparked debate.

Jonathan Martin, offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, left
the NFL after being harassed by teammates. Photo courtesy of
the NFL.

Jonathan Martin left the Miami Dolphins after being bullied, Oct. 28. 

Incognito had previously left Martin a voicemail with racial slurs. The message ended with Incognito telling Martin, “You’re still a rookie. I’ll kill you.”

In an interview with Fox Sports, Incognito said that the way football players communicate in the locker room is traditionally “vulgar.” He said. “I’ve taken stuff too far and I didn’t know it was hurting him.”

Jay Glazer interviews Richie Incognito about bullying Jonathan Martin. Incognito says, "I was a close friend with Jonathan....I've taken stuff too far and I didn't know I was hurting him." NFL players and other people have had mixed responses about this interview.

The reactions to the interview have been mixed. Twitter has seen a lot of the feedback.

Some people thought that Incognito’s answers were planned ahead of time. Another criticism is that his answers are too heavily edited. 

Sports writer Bill Barnwell tweeted, “Would like to see FOX release the version of this Incognito interview that doesn’t have his responses edited/cut off in mid-sentence.”

Other people thought that Jay Glazer, the person interviewing Incognito, didn’t ask any though questions. 

Dave Zirin, sports editor for The Nation, tweeted, “I’m just glad @JayGlazer asked Incognito about former teammates who’ve accused him of assault. Wait, what?”

However, not all of the responses were negative.

Incognito told Glazer that Martin had also send him a vulgar text. This information changed some people’s views of incognito. 

Judy Battista, a sports journalist for NFL.com. tweeted, “If Incognito proves Martin sent him a text saying ‘I will murder your whole f---ing family’ how much does it shift perception of this mess?”

NFL players have mixed reactions as well.

ESPN released a survey about the Incognito/Martin harassment, Nov. 8. A little less than half of the NFL players said they had been hazed.

Also, they were asked if they would rather have Martin of Incognito as a teammate. 34 responded with Martin while 15 said Incognito.

Dannell Ellerbe, lineman for the Dolphins, addressed Martin coming forward about the bullying. He said, “We don’t have no problem with [coming forward]. We would try to handle it the best way possible.”

Richie Incognito, the defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, is on
suspension for bullying teammate Jonathan Martin. Incognito was
recently interviewed by Fox Sports on the harassment and has
filed a grievance for the suspension. Jane Greenberg/Getty Images.

Incognito filed grievance.

The Dolphin’s defensive end was suspended in early November because of this harassment. 

Incognito filed a grievance last week to recover his lost salary during this suspension. His weekly income had been more than $235,000.

The grievance says that the NFL “has not and cannot identify any detriment to the club caused by Mr. Incognito.”