NFL Locker Rooms: A Safe Space for Bullies?

NFL Locker Rooms: A Safe Space for Bullies?

The Martin-Incognito case has started discussions on bullying and changing “locker room culture.” 

Richie Incognito has been suspended indefinitely
from the Miami Dolphins after being accused
of bullying and sending racist and vulgar to a former teammate.
(Jack Pepper/Sports Beat)

The Miami Dolphins have shown there is no clear line between “poking fun” and hazing in an NFL locker room. There are mixed opinions about the alleged bullying of Dolphins player Jonathan Martin by former teammate Richie Incognito. According to his lawyer, Martin, 24, left the team on Oct. 28 because of “harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing.” Days later, Incognito, 30, was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.

Friendship or Harassment

Incognito is being criticized for a profanity-filled voicemail he left on Martin's phone in which he uses the N-word. Incognito acknowledged in an interview with "Fox NFL Sunday" that he used racist and vulgar language in both voice mails and text messages, but said it was "coming from a place of love." According to Incognito, this is the nature of his friendship with Martin. He told Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer that in the past, Martin had sent him a text reading "I will murder your whole F-ing family.""Now, do I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family? Not one bit," said Incognito. "This isn't an issue about bullying, this is an issue of my and Jon's relationship, where I've taken stuff too far, and I didn't know it was hurting him."

In an interview with "Fox NFL Sunday," Richie Incognito defended the voice mail he sent to former teammate Jonathan Martin, saying it was "coming from a place of love."

Changing Locker Room Culture

Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, is planning to make changes to policies. Ross said, "We all know that the football locker room is a different workplace than most of us are accustomed to ... I want to know that our workplace going onward will be the best workplace that you can find in the NFL."

Jonathan Martin left the Miami Dolphins after
experiencing harassment and bullying in the locker
room, text messages and voice mails.
(Kevin Leahy/Miami Herald)

However, changing locker room culture will take time. Dr. Gary Namie, director of the Workplace Bullying Institute, said, "The NFL would be making a big mistake if they went from zero awareness to zero tolerance. You've got to bring the cultures along. They've built themselves up over time."

Dolphins players recognize this culture and have come to Incognito's defense far more than Martin's. Dannell Ellerbe, a Dolphins' linebacker said, "We talk about it, but we're all grown men ... You've just got to be respectful to each other. It's an NFL locker room. We laugh and joke all the time. I guess you've just got to watch what you say now." 

Some believe the atmosphere of locker rooms is starting to shift. An anonymous veteran NFL player said, "the language in the NFL locker room and out on the field has drastically changed in the last three or four years. People are more conscious of what they're saying. Understanding that a word just isn't a word anymore."

Want to share your thoughts on thoughts on the story? Who's in the right? Tell us!