The Dolphins were, and are, a team without a spine. A roster without any semblance of the leadership that forms any good club’s backbone, that polices itself, that draws hard lines on what’s OK in the inner sanctum and what is not.
You could look even higher than the locker room level for the void of leadership.
Look to an owner Stephen Ross, who was a football novice before becoming majority owner in 2009.
Look to the former general manager, Jeff Ireland, a lightweight in his field, not accomplished enough to either earn respect from players or instill fear.
Look to a rookie coach, Joe Philbin, who was understandably more concerned with adjusting to his new role and trying to win games than wondering if, below his office, his players might be tormenting one another.
Look to the blind-mice assistant coaches, including one, Jim Turner, who even participated in the inappropriate behavior. (Blowup dolls, Jim? Really!?)
Everyone bears his burden in this. Again, though, for me, it starts at the player level, with the teammates who like to call themselves “brothers” allowing this to go on with mouths closed — because nobody was strong enough to stand up and shout, “Stop!”
No leader was anywhere to be found when Martin was being taunted to tears in a pattern of abuse, or when a second young lineman and an assistant trainer also were being blatantly harassed. No leader was anywhere when Incognito and cohorts Mike Pouncey and John Jerry were running rampant with their profane, juvenile, cruel behavior.