The Blame Game: Assigning Culpability To The 3-Headed Monster

[J. David Wannyheimer]

And you know what, this wouldn't be the first time the Dolphins have suffered a black eye under the Ireland/Aponte watch for not wanting to pay their players.

I think that's the real story here. Randy Starks' middle finger? David Canter blasting the team in public? Mr. Ross, it is time to remove the stench of Parcells from this organization.

 

[SkapePhin]

I don't feel bad for Richie either, and when I said witch hunt that's exactly what I meant. Joe Philbin, a guy I am very critical of as a coach, I think is being unfairly destroyed over this. Other players in the locker room.. Ryan Tannehill and Cam Wake, are you kidding me? You got people going after THEM for this now? It's unbelievable.

Agreed. The snowballing witch hunt here is disgusting. If this happened to a respect organization like the Steelers, Packers or Giants, do you think the media reaction would be the same?

 

[Namor]

It's always been that way. Try going to a college philosophy, religious, or political class with conservative views & see how your grade is affected.

Dammitt man...you are my new hero....and your from God's country (Alabama)...faith has been restored in the younger generation.

 

[bcsupratt]

Great Post Vaark!

 

[FSU Truth]

1) Richie is a 30 year old man and at this point in his life, especially with everything he has gone through to redeem himself, should know better. I don't know if he is racist or not, that is beside the point, he left a message that shows him using a racial slur and threatening another player and that in inexcusable.

2) Martin is also a grown man who is very well educated and also should have known what to do when is got to the point where he couldn't take it anymore. Storming out like he did was not the best solution (neither is confronting Richie), but there are position coaches, coordinators, HR, Front office people, veteran players he could have spoke do. Then again, maybe he did and people simply responded with "that's Richie being Richie" or "that's just part of the NFL".

3) Philbin is so out of touch with his team it is scary, a coach is suppose to have a pulse on the locker room and it seems as if he s clueless to the situation.

 

[Vaark]

1) Richie is a 30 year old man and at this point in his life, especially with everything he has gone through to redeem himself, should know better. I don't know if he is racist or not, that is beside the point, he left a message that shows him using a racial slur and threatening another player and that in inexcusable.

2) Martin is also a grown man who is very well educated and also should have known what to do when is got to the point where he couldn't take it anymore. Storming out like he did was not the best solution (neither is confronting Richie), but there are position coaches, coordinators, HR, Front office people, veteran players he could have spoke do. Then again, maybe he did and people simply responded with "that's Richie being Richie" or "that's just part of the NFL".

3) Philbin is so out of touch with his team it is scary, a coach is suppose to have a pulse on the locker room and it seems as if he s clueless to the situation.

If Martin would have just disappeared instead of trying to conjure up his best Lionel Barrymore with that dramatic exit after thinking nothing wrong with being part of those who identically pranked Gardner 2 weeks before, then I'd give him a little more credit. To me this looks all contrived and rehearsed as an exit strategy spurred on by parasites who want 30-40% of riches resulting from a situation they helped create.

 

[tylerdolphin]

Bottom line, as I see it:

1. Jon Martin has a nervous breakdown, quits, checks into rehab.
2. Dolphins decide they don't want to pay him (paging Dawn Aponte) and say they're going to put him on the NFI list.
3. Martin's agent and representation release a ****storm on Miami.


In fact, the more I think about this - follow the money - the more I'm convinced this is exactly what happened. And you know what, it would explain Richie's dad's reaction, too. Dawn Aponte and Jeff Ireland need to be fired immediately.

Remember this post, because I think its pretty likely this is exactly what happened. That would explain why Martin never mentioned the harassment to Philbin in their first meeting after he went AWOL. Maybe he never planned to and wanted to deal with it i his own way but felt his hand was forced with the NFI thing so he decided to bring the ship down.

 

[Xbrett82us]

I think Martin is an emotionally weak, and perhaps mentally unstable individual that was too much of a coward to try and resolve this situation in house.

Incognito isn't a racist, he's just an idiot that doesn't know how to read people's boundaries. Both parties are equally bad in my opinion, but I resent Martin more for bringing it to this.

 

[laxcoach]

Bottom line, as I see it:

1. Jon Martin has a nervous breakdown, quits, checks into rehab.
2. Dolphins decide they don't want to pay him (paging Dawn Aponte) and say they're going to put him on the NFI list.
3. Martin's agent and representation release a ****storm on Miami.


In fact, the more I think about this - follow the money - the more I'm convinced this is exactly what happened. And you know what, it would explain Richie's dad's reaction, too. Dawn Aponte and Jeff Ireland need to be fired immediately.

The most obvious, simplest, and logical thing I've seen about this situation. I tip my hat to you sir.

 

[FSU Truth]

If Martin would have just disappeared instead of trying to conjure up his best Lionel Barrymore with that dramatic exit after thinking nothing wrong with being part of those who identically pranked Gardner 2 weeks before, then I'd give him a little more credit. To me this looks all contrived and rehearsed as an exit strategy spurred on by parasites who want 30-40% of riches resulting from a situation they helped create.

There is a possibility and they may not all be on Martin (advice from outside sources looking to take advantage of not only the Dolphins, but also Martin in this situation). In the end I'm not sure anyone is looking out for Martin's best interest the situation. I'm not trying to leave him blameless (again, he is well educated and comes from an affluent family) , but he can't be happy with how he is coming off in this situation.

 

[Dominate]

1) Richie is a 30 year old man and at this point in his life, especially with everything he has gone through to redeem himself, should know better. I don't know if he is racist or not, that is beside the point, he left a message that shows him using a racial slur and threatening another player and that in inexcusable.

2) Martin is also a grown man who is very well educated and also should have known what to do when is got to the point where he couldn't take it anymore. Storming out like he did was not the best solution (neither is confronting Richie), but there are position coaches, coordinators, HR, Front office people, veteran players he could have spoke do. Then again, maybe he did and people simply responded with "that's Richie being Richie" or "that's just part of the NFL".

3) Philbin is so out of touch with his team it is scary, a coach is suppose to have a pulse on the locker room and it seems as if he s clueless to the situation.

CT, from the get go I have pretty much been in agreement with you on this matter, and viewed Martin as the victim who did nothing to deserve the treatment he was receiving. I am not excusing the voicemails and text messages Incognito sent. Over the top and inexcusable...I agree.

Now though...it looks like that in the time since those voicemails and texts were sent 6 months ago, Cogs and Martin have been photographed going out to the clubs together and participating in pranks together against other teammates. Something here doesn't fit. We want to get mad at Philbin and the other players for not having Martin's back and ignoing the abuse Richie was putting Martin through. BUT...what if the voicmails and texts were the extent of Richie's bullying? Still not saying that was ok at all. But, what if since that time there has been no bullying going on and that is why Philbin and the teammates didn't do something? They can't do something about a situation that is not really present. I don't know.

I do know that I have now heard enough that I have a very hard time believing Jonathan Martin is 100% the innocent victim in this case. I do believe he is obviously struggling with mental health issues, and I wish the best for him. BUT...I have to admit that I have doubts about his story, and if he is using those voicemails and texts from Richie from 6 months go (which I will again reiterate are inexcusable and over the top) to simply justify his absence from the team because 1) he has other mental health issues he doesn't want to mention or 2) it's the only way he could leave the team and still get paid, then what he is doing is just as bad.

The problem here is if that is the case, Richie has already been tried, convicted, and hung in the Court of the media and most public opinion, and Martin has gotten a free pass. Not sure how you undo the damage that has already been caused if Martin is indeed embellishing the situation and crying wolf to a certain extent.

 

[laxcoach]

Dolphins should put both guys on the NFI and pay them to just shut up. Offer to leave Martin there (paid) for the remainder of his contract.

Tell Richie the only way he can rehab his image and get a gig next year is to lay low and let this storm pass. Guarantee him that the phins will not leak anything negative about him, and that Martin will not be paid if his camp continues to leak.

Eat the money and move on.

 

[scodoublet]

Bottom line, as I see it:

1. Jon Martin has a nervous breakdown, quits, checks into rehab.
2. Dolphins decide they don't want to pay him (paging Dawn Aponte) and say they're going to put him on the NFI list.
3. Martin's agent and representation release a ****storm on Miami.


In fact, the more I think about this - follow the money - the more I'm convinced this is exactly what happened. And you know what, it would explain Richie's dad's reaction, too. Dawn Aponte and Jeff Ireland need to be fired immediately.

I think this may be closest to what happened, from what we can gather so far.
Martin tried to deal with it on his own, snapped, then it all went down from there.
Of course, if Richie didn't say/do what he did, the rest of the chain of events would not be possible.

 

[FSU Truth]

CT, from the get go I have pretty much been in agreement with you on this matter, and viewed Martin as the victim who did nothing to deserve the treatment he was receiving. I am not excusing the voicemails and text messages Incognito sent. Over the top and inexcusable...I agree.

Now though...it looks like that in the time since those voicemails and texts were sent 6 months ago, Cogs and Martin have been photographed going out to the clubs together and participating in pranks together against other teammates. Something here doesn't fit. We want to get mad at Philbin and the other players for not having Martin's back and ignoing the abuse Richie was putting Martin through. BUT...what if the voicmails and texts were the extent of Richie's bullying? Still not saying that was ok at all. But, what if since that time there has been no bullying going on and that is why Philbin and the teammates didn't do something? They can't do something about a situation that is not really present. I don't know.

I do know that I have now heard enough that I have a very hard time believing Jonathan Martin is 100% the innocent victim in this case. I do believe he is obviously struggling with mental health issues, and I wish the best for him. BUT...I have to admit that I have doubts about his story, and if he is using those voicemails and texts from Richie from 6 months go (which I will again reiterate are inexcusable and over the top) to simply justify his absence from the team because 1) he has other mental health issues he doesn't want to mention or 2) it's the only way he could leave the team and still get paid, then what he is doing is just as bad.

The problem here is if that is the case, Richie has already been tried, convicted, and hung in the Court of the media and most public opinion, and Martin has gotten a free pass. Not sure how you undo the damage that has already been caused if Martin is indeed embellishing the situation and crying wolf to a certain extent.

I agree with Martin taking some blame in this (it gets lost in some posts as I have focused on RI in most threads) and he is too smart of an individual to let it get to this point and handle it the way that he did. As some pointed out...the mental health issue could be the defining issue in all of this and could explain how all of this went down the way in which it did.

 

[Vaark]

I agree with Martin taking some blame in this (it gets lost in some posts as I have focused on RI in most threads) and he is too smart of an individual to let it get to this point and handle it the way that he did. As some pointed out...the mental health issue could be the defining issue in all of this and could explain how all of this went down the way in which it did.

Martin is either complicit in going for the huge payday before he moves on with his life in other more sensitive endeavors or is naively being manipulated by legal parasites. If you don't think more combustible/inflammatory incidents have occurred within the cloister of other teams but were kept in house, i've got a shiny bridge in Gonzo's borough I can let you have cheap. He's no innocent in what his handlers have turned into a scorched earth campaign.