Two Sides

There are two sides to every story.  That’s what we are now learning about the situation in Miami.  Reports by Jonathan Martin that fellow Dolphin Richie Incognito bullied him into leaving the team are now being challenged by players from around the league.  Dolphin players seem intent on protecting the "locker room" mentality that exists across the league; what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.    Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has described the two antagonists as best friends, almost brothers.  Other teammates expressed similar feelings.  One report, by ESPN Dolphin reporter James Walker, went so far as to say that to a man Dolphin players support Richie Incognito.  Wide receiver, Brian Hartline question whether Martin was even truly intimidated by Incognito’s threatening voicemail. 

Many players across the league feel Martin should have been “a man” and stood up to the bullying.  Some have even suggested that Jonathan Martin may be equally to blame.  One, Giants free safety Antrel Rolle said, “I think the other guy (Martin) is just as much to blame because he allowed it to happen”.   It also has been implied that Dolphin coaches advised Incognito that Martin was soft and he should toughen him up.  Martin’s own agent reported he was told by Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland that Martin should “punch” Incognito.

No matter what, two things seem evident:  One, Richie Incognito has a reputation as a dirty player prone to fits of violence on and off the field.  The Dolphins are the fourth team to have suspended him.  He has a history of racking up penalties including those for unnecessary roughness.  He was named the NFL’s Dirtiest Player by Sporting News magazine.  Secondly, no one, regardless of how soft or unmanly he is deserves to be threatened and to have his family’s safety imperiled to the point of fearing for their well-being.  No one should be spoken to with the dialogue and racial epithets include in Incognito’s voicemails.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of the NFL’s investigation will be as there are two sides to sort out.  Usually however one turns out to be lies…