Jonathan Martin Alleges Player Misconduct, Dolphins ask for NFL Review

[greenandwhite80]

Dolphins should just release the guy or cut him. Can become contagious.

 

[Hayden Fox]

IMO, if he can prove that Incognito's behavior was beyond normal hazing and locker room behavior, then he has a chance to restart his career somewhere else. That's the only out for him.

Probably right. He better have some good stuff. I think Martin gets destroyed when everything comes out.

 

[Joba-nator]

I'd say lets cut him, but I much rather just put him on the NFI list and never allow him the chance to get paid by an NFL team again.

Giving him his release is what this butt hurt whiner wants. Especially because he would've never said a word about it if he wasn't taken off of the LT spot.

 

[SkapePhin]

IMO, if he can prove that Incognito's behavior was beyond normal hazing and locker room behavior, then he has a chance to restart his career somewhere else. That's the only out for him.

Short of Incognito raping Martin in the shower, I can't think of a team that would want this guy on the team. For one, he isn't that good. And on top of that, he left his team in a lurch and proceeded to create a mess for the organization. Even if there was some stuff that crossed the line, teams won't care because the same crap happens there too.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Which would indicate a) that he reported his issues, and b) he made it clear the issues were serious.

It could also be a reflection on Martin's desire to play football in the first place and his own emotional issues.

The bottom line is that even though I think Richie Incognito probably really is a huge jerk, and I think Mike Pouncey might be a borderline psychopath (based on his involvement with Aaron Hernandez), NOTHING that's been reported seems outrageous by NFL locker room standards, and other players have come out and said as much. Chas Alexcih, who is NOT with the team and honestly has no reason to weigh in here, said that Richie helped him a lot and was not really abusive to the new guys.

Now let's be realistic here and look at the facts:

- Martin participated in many of these pranks.
- Martin was seen on Bourbon street hanging out smiling, laughing, and carousing with Richie Incognito when the Dolphins played the Saints.
- Martin kept texting teammates (including Richie) saying that he didn't blame them, and that it was 'locker room culture' etc that he had problems with.
- Other players have said that they saw nothing 'out of the ordinary.' Chas Alexcih, a former Dolphin who has NO reason to protect the team as he was CUT and is no longer affiliated, has said that Incognito was actually helpful and outgoing with the rookies.
- Martin waited until after he got demoted to RT to do this.
- Martin is lawyering up.

I'll be clear, I think Richie Incognito is probably a jerk. I think Mike Pouncey (the other guy I have heard rumored to be involved) is probably a grade-A scumbag.

But that doesn't mean that Jon Martin was put under some unbelievable, unconscionable duress that forced this situation. Let's wait and see what else comes out now, because right now, it looks to me like Jon Martin doesn't have a passion for football, doesn't like his job, and is looking for a way to get out and get paid. Fair or unfair, that is what it looks like to me.

Now, you change those facts and it comes out that Richie really was doing some crazy **** to him, and I'm gonna be calling for #68 to be cut immediately and for Joe Philbin to be fired. But I haven't seen that yet.

 

[Vaark]

guess we can put you on the homophobic bigot train then?

[strike]asshol[/strike] jestroll.

 

[laxcoach]

It's the way attorneys think....

I can't tell you how many deals my dad either f-ed up, or almost f-ed up, for me before I realized it wasn't a normal way to do business. When you pay an attorney, you can tell them to back off and be reasonable with the other attorney. When you get free advice from parents, they treat you like a kid they are protecting.

I would love to be a fly on the wall and see what JMs parents are telling him. I think I have a good idea. Highly educated, successful attorney parents are doing what they think is right for their kid. But it is from a very legalistic viewpoint.

 

[jetsattack]

I'm not into meathead culture, but if I were on a football team or on a police force, or in the military, I would expect to face an element of that. Are drill sergeants still allowed to completely degrade and break down recruits? Because isn't that where this hazing/pranks thing comes from? A way to "toughen up" recruits (rookies) so they can endure the real tough **** on the battlefield?

I'm just confused how a guy gets to the NFL level and is suddenly surprised by the agro/meathead culture that persists in the locker room.

when i went through basic training the drill sergeants were not allowed to do the types of things you see in full metal jacket anymore. they can yell at you and make you do pt. that about it. no cursing, degrading etc.....

 

[SkapePhin]

when i went through basic training the drill sergeants were not allowed to do the types of things you see in full metal jacket anymore. they can yell at you and make you do pt. that about it. no cursing, degrading etc.....

Damn, that is surprising... I'm not one who really likes degrading others, etc. but if there is one place it makes sense, it's the military. The goal is to weed out the weak, and harden the rest for the horrors of war. I wonder what kind of impact this has had on the front, if any.

Although, nowadays a lot of the military action is done from a computer screen with drones, etc., so I guess that part doesn't matter so much anymore.

 

[TheWalrus]

Short of Incognito raping Martin in the shower, I can't think of a team that would want this guy on the team. For one, he isn't that good. And on top of that, he left his team in a lurch and proceeded to create a mess for the organization. Even if there was some stuff that crossed the line, teams won't care because the same crap happens there too.

It could also be a reflection on Martin's desire to play football in the first place and his own emotional issues.

The bottom line is that even though I think Richie Incognito probably really is a huge jerk, and I think Mike Pouncey might be a borderline psychopath (based on his involvement with Aaron Hernandez), NOTHING that's been reported seems outrageous by NFL locker room standards, and other players have come out and said as much. Chas Alexcih, who is NOT with the team and honestly has no reason to weigh in here, said that Richie helped him a lot and was not really abusive to the new guys.

Now let's be realistic here and look at the facts:

- Martin participated in many of these pranks.
- Martin was seen on Bourbon street hanging out smiling, laughing, and carousing with Richie Incognito when the Dolphins played the Saints.
- Martin kept texting teammates (including Richie) saying that he didn't blame them, and that it was 'locker room culture' etc that he had problems with.
- Other players have said that they saw nothing 'out of the ordinary.' Chas Alexcih, a former Dolphin who has NO reason to protect the team as he was CUT and is no longer affiliated, has said that Incognito was actually helpful and outgoing with the rookies.
- Martin waited until after he got demoted to RT to do this.
- Martin is lawyering up.

I'll be clear, I think Richie Incognito is probably a jerk. I think Mike Pouncey (the other guy I have heard rumored to be involved) is probably a grade-A scumbag.

But that doesn't mean that Jon Martin was put under some unbelievable, unconscionable duress that forced this situation. Let's wait and see what else comes out now, because right now, it looks to me like Jon Martin doesn't have a passion for football, doesn't like his job, and is looking for a way to get out and get paid. Fair or unfair, that is what it looks like to me.

Now, you change those facts and it comes out that Richie really was doing some crazy **** to him, and I'm gonna be calling for #68 to be cut immediately and for Joe Philbin to be fired. But I haven't seen that yet.

We don't know what went on yet so it's early to be making statements to the effect that nothing Incognito could have done could have warranted Martin's reaction. Gotta wait for the details. If Martin has voicemails from Incognito where he's threatening to beat him unconscious it's going to give this all a very different flavor.

The nice thing is it seems that we're going to find out. Martin's side is going to want to wage this as publicly as they can, imo. His image needs to be rehabilitated and the only way to do that is to paint Incog as the villain. Help the Dolphins or not I have to admit I'm curious.

 

[zach attach]

I'm not into meathead culture, but if I were on a football team or on a police force, or in the military, I would expect to face an element of that. Are drill sergeants still allowed to completely degrade and break down recruits? Because isn't that where this hazing/pranks thing comes from? A way to "toughen up" recruits (rookies) so they can endure the real tough **** on the battlefield?

I'm just confused how a guy gets to the NFL level and is suddenly surprised by the agro/meathead culture that persists in the locker room.

I've been a police officer for 19 years. The profession is basically all a-type personalities. I assume NFL players are the same. Sometimes a b-type just doesn't fit in, and feels rejected. Sounds like Martin is a b-type.

 

[NBP81]

Everytime stuff like this happens, its just another cut deeper into my heart and the love I have for this game, its becoming a fking reality TV show where players get their feelings hurt and absolutely have to let the whole world know about it. And its become so easy with the gossip girl media who are jumping on those stories like their printable gold... Incognito is what a football player was back then, that's the kind of football I`ve grown to adore. He might not be the sharpest tool in the box but this guy loves the game, he loves playing it! Martin on the other hand is exactly what football is becoming, the mental version of flag football... I mean, don't go to the waterpark if you don't want to get wet. If you don't like football, just leave it alone and quit quietly, like a fking men! Don't bring the club that overdrafted you down with you! don't like the atmosphere then just fking leave!!! Nobody`s twisting your arm to keep playing football you fking *****!

 

[jetsattack]

What consequences?

The worm is looking for a settlement. This is not exactly a secret what his move is all about.

It's the NFL, it's a mans game. He knew the rules before he was drafted. Short of one of his team mates physically assaulting him away from the facility he's out of luck.

What's he going to say? They called me bad names! This is such a joke. It's just the PC culture running wild.

idk....i'm not a lawyer and i am not anywhere near an expert in labor law. but i'm sure there will be financial repercussions if the allegations are true

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

We don't know what went on yet so it's early to be making statements to the effect that nothing Incognito could have done could have warranted Martin's reaction. Gotta wait for the details. If Martin has voicemails from Incognito where he's threatening to beat him unconscious it's going to give this all a very different flavor.

The nice thing is it seems that we're going to find out. Martin's side is going to want to wage this as publicly as they can, imo. His image needs to be rehabilitated and the only way to do that is to paint him as the villain. Help the Dolphins or not I have to admit I'm curious.

Correct. But until I see that stuff, I go on the statements of other players on the team, who seem to be saying "I didn't see anything like that" and things of that nature.

But again, if it turns out that something really, really bad was going on and Joe Philbin knew (that something really, really bad was going on) and did nothing, I want his head on a platter.

 

[TheWalrus]

when i went through basic training the drill sergeants were not allowed to do the types of things you see in full metal jacket anymore. they can yell at you and make you do pt. that about it. no cursing, degrading etc.....

Exactly. In the book "Jarhead" Swofford tells a story about a drill sergeant putting his head through a chalkboard. Swofford complained and got the drill sergeant discharged. Never would have happened in the 60s or 70s.