Bad locker room in Miami?

[ThunderDan]

I just heard on the radio that Martin played "the tape" to teammates and they laughed at him. Who knows if that is true or not but it would put a damper on who Martin could talk to.

Apparently the issue in the dining room was that a bunch of players invited Martin to sit with them to eat. When he sat down all of the other players got up and walked away.

[Joemailman]

So who was misunderstood more, Martin or Incognito? Tannehill was not the only Miami player to back this story.

Jeff Darlington @JeffDarlington 1h
Ryan Tannehill: "If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he'd say Richie Incognito."

Jeff Darlington @JeffDarlington 1h
Tannehill has strong words about the relationship between Incognito and Martin, noting Incognito was always first to be at Martin's side.


Do people see only what they want to see?

CollegeFootball 24/7 @NFL_CFB 24m
"Issue is not with Jonathan Martin, issue is with the other person," David Shaw on #CFB247podcast. http://on.nfl.com/1dLyEnp

"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."

Is this something that was said to try to intimidate someone? Or is this something you would only say to a close friend or family member understanding it would not be taken literally? I'm really starting to wonder.

[red]

you know joe, we need to hear the tape, because context and tone of voice make the whole difference here

i could easily see myself saying something similar to one of my friends

i guess there is a chance incognito thought he was playing all in good fun and didn't know martin wasn't taking it that way

[Joemailman]

In my opinion, Incognito will be playing for the Dolphins once this is completely investigated. Martin, not so much. Dolphin players are starting to speak up in Incognito's defense. http://nfl.si.com/2013/11/06/jonatha...2_a1&eref=sihp

@HubbuchNYP
Hartline is outraged because he says Martin was passing the voicemail around earlier in the year and laughing about it.
4:28 PM - 6 Nov 2013
498 RETWEETS 63 FAVORITES

[Tony Oday]

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=9937464

Evil Incognito.

[NewsBruin]

After reading the quotes from the ESPN and SI links in the last posts (and their linked stories), I don't feel at like I have any handle to comment anymore. Right now, I want to just throw up my hands. Maybe all the Dolphins loved Ritchie; maybe some of his ex-teammates didn't. Maybe Icognito and Martin were best buds; maybe they were a Stockholm relationship. It's amazing how the reporters can find an on-record source/analyst who will agree wholeheartedly with whatever narrative wind is blowing. I feel like I'm watching an 80's sitcom with the canned audience that can react appropriately at the press of a button. Or maybe a Greek chorus, for the more classical types.

I don't think it was as simple as Martin just walking away from a bad situation. He walked away from the lockerroom and checked into a hospital. Whatever was eating him up was something that he had held in for a while, and he had no clue how to do something about it. And while he's recovering, Incognito's voicemails are leaked to the media by "representatives," who at this point, would likely be his agent or parents.

I'm really beyond any clue as to deciding what should be right or normal in the NFL, and I'm not really trusting what anyone said. I want to believe that Incognito was a boorish boob, loved by his teammates as a "salt-of-the-earth" type; that Martin didn't know how to tell anyone on the team; that Philbin would have dropped everything to help him if he asked; that Gooddell is interested in everyone's long-term wellbeing more than PR appeasement; and that the reactions of all the ex-players in the studio sets are more specific and genuine than the prerecorded comments on the halftime shows of my NFL video game. But I'm pretty sure at least one of those may not be as accurate as my wishful thinking.

[Tony Oday]

I hope Martin gets the help to put his brain back together so he is healthy and adjusted. I doubt he plays football again.

[woodbuck27]

After reading the quotes from the ESPN and SI links in the last posts (and their linked stories), I don't feel at like I have any handle to comment anymore. Right now, I want to just throw up my hands. Maybe all the Dolphins loved Ritchie; maybe some of his ex-teammates didn't. Maybe Icognito and Martin were best buds; maybe they were a Stockholm relationship. It's amazing how the reporters can find an on-record source/analyst who will agree wholeheartedly with whatever narrative wind is blowing. I feel like I'm watching an 80's sitcom with the canned audience that can react appropriately at the press of a button. Or maybe a Greek chorus, for the more classical types.

I don't think it was as simple as Martin just walking away from a bad situation. He walked away from the lockerroom and checked into a hospital. Whatever was eating him up was something that he had held in for a while, and he had no clue how to do something about it. And while he's recovering, Incognito's voicemails are leaked to the media by "representatives," who at this point, would likely be his agent or parents.

I'm really beyond any clue as to deciding what should be right or normal in the NFL, and I'm not really trusting what anyone said. I want to believe that Incognito was a boorish boob, loved by his teammates as a "salt-of-the-earth" type; that Martin didn't know how to tell anyone on the team; that Philbin would have dropped everything to help him if he asked; that Gooddell is interested in everyone's long-term wellbeing more than PR appeasement; and that the reactions of all the ex-players in the studio sets are more specific and genuine than the prerecorded comments on the halftime shows of my NFL video game. But I'm pretty sure at least one of those may not be as accurate as my wishful thinking.

Good post with much thought and compassion in it.

Congratulations.

[George Cumby]

Good post with much thought and compassion in it.

D

+1

Well said NB.

[pbmax]

What we have here is a failure, to communicate.

Sources: Ireland suggested that Martin confront Incognito physically

Jeff Ireland, in a conversation with Martin's agent proposed that Martin confront Incognito, this would be prior to his departure last month. Punch him, is what the advice was.

So, was Incognito clueless enough to think Martin saw him as a friend? Was Martin friendless enough that prominent teammates could mistake the relationship for a friendship?


You know all the talk and work Rodgers puts into getting to know the players so he can effectively lead and communicate with them? He should get a raise.

[pbmax]

I am getting a strong vibe that NO ONE in Miami knows what is going on. Certainly that seems to be because no one on the team has spoken from Martin's point of view and that might be tied to his relationship to his teammates.

Tannehill, who thought they were great friends, never heard the voicemail: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-best-friends/

Clabo and Hartline, who think Martin betrayed Incognito think Martin was laughing at the voicemail: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...es-doing-this/

Clabo mentions the friendship though it appears here that Incognito made that claim earlier this week: http://nypost.com/2013/11/06/dolphin...hie-incognito/

Hubbuch's Twitter timeline has a quote, from Clabo I think, that Incognito recorded the voicemail while drunk.

And the Dolphins seem intent on making this as bad a situation as possible: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-keep-digging/

Here is one for Kiwon, two teammates that do not believe Incognito is a racist: http://nypost.com/2013/11/06/dolphin...hie-incognito/

[Harlan Huckleby]

i guess there is a chance incognito thought he was playing all in good fun and didn't know martin wasn't taking it that way

yes, entirely possible.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Incognito is super creepy. Maybe he likes to lurk around wearing disguises.

I'm not taking any firm position until Greg Jennings weighs in.

[George Cumby]

yes, entirely possible.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Incognito is super creepy. Maybe he likes to lurk around wearing disguises.

I'm not taking any firm position until Greg Jennings' sister weighs in.

Fixed.

[Guiness]

yes, entirely possible.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Incognito is super creepy. Maybe he likes to lurk around wearing disguises.

I'm not taking any firm position until Greg Jennings weighs in.

You want creepy?

Well, there is this..

http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_1r739gfp

[Patler]

Sources: Ireland suggested that Martin confront Incognito physically

Jeff Ireland, in a conversation with Martin's agent proposed that Martin confront Incognito, this would be prior to his departure last month. Punch him, is what the advice was.

For those of you who have been very critical of Martin, if this report is true, and the GM was aware and offered the solution of a physical confrontation; does your opinion about Martin's ultimate action change?

This situation gets more and more strange with each passing day. I don't see either Incognito or Martin ever playing there again. I would say that Ireland and Philbin will both be gone, but I thought NO might be forced to a housecleaning too, and they weren't. Of course there is a big difference, Ireland & Philbin haven't demonstrated enough on-field success to trump the negative publicity being generated. In NO, they had.

I do believe that Incognito may have been clueless, and that Martin may not be of the preferred personality/temperment for an NFL team, but that is where leadership failed. It is the responsibility of coaches and team leaders to bring a very diverse group of personalities into a team structure. They failed, apparently.