Revisiting the Jonathan Martin incident

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Yeah it's not like Incognito had a nice and clean track record prior to this incident, but nobody can deny that Martin totally screwed him over.

Yeah I agree. But he was a terrible person before this.

[52520Andrew]

I wouldn't want either of them IMO. From what I have heard, Incognito is not a great player to be around and do I even have to explain Martin? Let some other team deal with those distractions.

[berad]

Ted Wells report was just released

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325827/article/ted-wells-releases-report-on-miami-dolphins

 

 

"The Report concludes that three starters on the Dolphins offensive line, Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, engaged in a pattern of harassment directed at not only Jonathan Martin, but also another young Dolphins offensive lineman and an assistant trainer," Wells said in a statement.

 

"The Report finds that the assistant trainer repeatedly was the object of racial slurs and other racially derogatory language; that the other offensive lineman was subjected to homophobic name-calling and improper physical touching; and that Martin was taunted on a persistent basis with sexually explicit remarks about his sister and his mother and at times ridiculed with racial insults and other offensive comments.

 

"The Report rejects any suggestion that Martin manufactured claims of abuse after the fact to cover up an impetuous decision to leave the team. Contemporaneous text messages that Martin sent to his parents and others months before he left the Dolphins -- which have never before been made public -- corroborate his account that the persistent harassment by his teammates caused him significant emotional distress.

 

"The Report concludes that the harassment by Martin's teammates was a contributing factor in his decision to leave the team, but also finds that Martin's teammates did not intend to drive Martin from the team or cause him lasting emotional injury,"

 

Report claims Incognito, John Jerry, and Mike Pouncey were the three guys that went around harassing others. Not at all surprising. Full 144-page document here:

 

http://63bba9dfdf9675bf3f10-68be460ce43dd2a60dd64ca5eca4ae1d.r37.cf1.rackcdn.com/PaulWeissReport.pdf

[Mt. Crushmore]

Ted Wells report was just released

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325827/article/ted-wells-releases-report-on-miami-dolphins

 

 

 

Report claims Incognito, John Jerry, and Mike Pouncey were the three guys that went around harassing others. Not at all surprising. Full 144-page document here:

 

http://63bba9dfdf9675bf3f10-68be460ce43dd2a60dd64ca5eca4ae1d.r37.cf1.rackcdn.com/PaulWeissReport.pdf

 

I would have read it, but its 144 pages

[Gordo52]

I'm sick of it to be honest.

Dolphins should just clean house and move on.

[Jokerraven]

Well that definitely sealed Incognitos fate, he was at fault and he is the scumbag Martin said he is and Martin did not lie . . I hope Ritchie  never plays another down in the nfl. How could anyone feel sorry for him in the first place ? its not just Martin coaches/trainers as well. and he wasn't the only one doing it no wonder Martin kept quiet

[BloodRaven]

 

"The Report concludes that the harassment by Martin's teammates was a contributing factor in his decision to leave the team, but also finds that Martin's teammates did not intend to drive Martin from the team or cause him lasting emotional injury,"

 

So it was harassment but also unintentional? please. Martin made no attempt to address the issue with these players he's thrown under the bus, it's clear as day in his text messages that they had no idea that he was cracking. He took his fragile psyche to his lawyer parents and they cooked up a way for him to cash out.

[Moderator 3]

The report is very damning of the organization. Who allows coaches to be harrassed? This shows a pattern that is undeniable.

[BloodRaven]

I'm calling it, both careers are over.

[Purple_ICE 81]

Ship em to Canada....and probably clean house fire Joe Philbin and everyone else involved. And to think this team had playoff aspirations last offseason...pshhh

[cobrajet]

The report is very damning of the organization. Who allows coaches to be harrassed? This shows a pattern that is undeniable.

I totally agree brother. I am so glad our team is not dysfunctional, this is a complete embarrassment.

[The Mom Gene]

There's no way the Ravens should even begin to consider any of this mess...  period.  All three of these guys need to GO!  Philbin will be gone too... along with some of his staff and his trainers...  and if not, then on a VERY short leash.

[Purple_ICE 81]

More absurd news on the situation:

Per the Wells Report, Dolphins OL coach Jim Turner gave ex-Fins and current Panthers OT Andrew McDonald a male blowup doll as an insinuation that McDonald was homosexual in December of 2012.

The report states McDonald was "frequently taunted ... with homophobic insults. He often was called a "[not on this site]" and asked him "where’s your boyfriend?" No Dolphins players actually believed McDonald was gay. But Turner took the harassment to another level. Around Christmas time in 2012, Turner gave his players gift bags and stocking stuffers. All of the linemen received inflatable female dolls, except McDonald, whose "gift bag" contained a male blowup doll. Turner remains employed by the Dolphins.

What the hell kind of coach gives their players blowup dolls as a christmas gift? No wonder the Dolphins are always one of the most sacked teams every year.

[ratedr]

For everyone who hates how Harbs only keeps "his character guys," ... it's to prevent things like this. Could you even imagine this flying in the Ravens locker room with guys like Harbs, Rice, Leach, and Smith?

[Inqui]

More absurd news on the situation:

Per the Wells Report, Dolphins OL coach Jim Turner gave ex-Fins and current Panthers OT Andrew McDonald a male blowup doll as an insinuation that McDonald was homosexual in December of 2012.

The report states McDonald was "frequently taunted ... with homophobic insults. He often was called a "[not on this site] and asked him "where’s your boyfriend?" No Dolphins players actually believed McDonald was gay. But Turner took the harassment to another level. Around Christmas time in 2012, Turner gave his players gift bags and stocking stuffers. All of the linemen received inflatable female dolls, except McDonald, whose "gift bag" contained a male blowup doll. Turner remains employed by the Dolphins.

What the hell kind of coach gives their players blowup dolls as a christmas gift? No wonder the Dolphins are always one of the most sacked teams every year.

[Inqui]

For everyone who hates how Harbs only keeps "his character guys," ... it's to prevent things like this. Could you even imagine this flying in the Ravens locker room with guys like Harbs, Rice, Leach, and Smith?

Sounds like the rot is pretty deep in that franchise. Can't believe the Jags are the least dysfunctional team in Florida.

[Purple_ICE 81]

Sounds like the rot is pretty deep in that franchise. Can't believe the Jags are the least dysfunctional team in Florida.

I feel like the Buccaneers are less dysfuctional than the jags and  a few pieces away from being contenders

[hawkprey]

I'm late to this - do we hate Incognito again or is he still the loveable goofball? 

 

Actually I've reserved judgment because the facts are still not all out. It's funny how everyone seems to switch allegiances after each new piece of evidence.

 

I'm gonna say they're all nuts and leave it at that.

[Moderator 3]

I've tried real hard not to form judgements on the people involved, especially before the report came out. I have formed a judgement on the organization, though, and it is not favorable.

[ravens533]

I find two things in this report very disturbing. That that assistant OL coach participated in the harassment is soooo wrong. Then there is Richie wanting the "Judas" fine book destroyed. He knew he crossed the line and even list a fine for himself for breaking Martin and awards the other lineman for "not breaking first". There is no poor Richie he was just misunderstood or he did not realize he was crossing lines. That guy knew what he did was wrong. I do agree though that Martin did have other options. He could have gone to the NFPA or the HR with the Dolphins. He had choices before letting it build to the point that he left and made a public spectacle of the whole mess.

[Blackbird11]

There is so much wrong with this situation. At this point, it's clear that Incognito is the main culprit and that he should receive the majority of the blame. His career is over. However, Martin is probably also to blame, even though he's the victim. Martin should have told somebody and not just played along as if everything were OK. Of course, that's easier said than done. When the leader of the locker room is against you, it's pretty much impossible to escape the ridicule and isolation that comes with it. I can kind of sympathize with Martin in this regard.

As for the possibility of Incognito harassing a coach, that is absolutely insane. That Joe Philbin or any other high ranking Dolphins official was unaware or willingly ignored it is worse. The entire Dolphins organization reeks of dysfunction and chaos. They have surpassed the Browns in that category, if that were even possible.

[Inqui]

I'm late to this - do we hate Incognito again or is he still the loveable goofball? 

 

Actually I've reserved judgment because the facts are still not all out. It's funny how everyone seems to switch allegiances after each new piece of evidence.

 

I'm gonna say they're all nuts and leave it at that.

I'm still reserving judgement because I feel like even this latest revelation isn't the end of it. But whenever someone complains about Harbs being too heavy-handed, I think this whole situation is a nice counterargument. And that's about the only thing I'm 100% on atm.

[hawkprey]

I'm still reserving judgement because I feel like even this latest revelation isn't the end of it. But whenever someone complains about Harbs being too heavy-handed, I think this whole situation is a nice counterargument. And that's about the only thing I'm 100% on atm.

Harbs is not too anything. He's the definition of well-rounded. 

[tolucaraven]

Martín was teased just like all the other Dolphins and also dished it out but couldnt take it. I know RI personally, good loyal guy, crazy when he drinks for sure, but i like him. He wont ever be a Raven cause Spags is actually not very well liked by players on the Rams as well. Ritchie spoke up against Spags, actually about an incident about Kyle Boller oddly enough not wanting to play a Night before a game when he took all t he first team snaps in practice the week after Bradford got hurt. I am freinds with several of those guys, Jacob Bell also.

[Inqui]

Ted Wells report was just released

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325827/article/ted-wells-releases-report-on-miami-dolphins

 

 

 

Report claims Incognito, John Jerry, and Mike Pouncey were the three guys that went around harassing others. Not at all surprising. Full 144-page document here:

 

http://63bba9dfdf9675bf3f10-68be460ce43dd2a60dd64ca5eca4ae1d.r37.cf1.rackcdn.com/PaulWeissReport.pdf

Just reading the report now. It's written in layman's English and is actually an interesting read. That said, it kinda needs a profanity and adult content warning (yeah I know, not many kids will be reading a report that big, but I think it's fair to provide a warning).

[Inqui]

That report paints a really messed up picture of the Dolphins as a whole. Page 22 talks about how they treated an assistant trainer who was born in Japan.

 

On December 7, 2012, the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey donned traditional Japanese headbands that featured a rising sun emblem (which the Assistant Trainer had given them) and jokingly threatened to harm the Assistant Trainer physically in retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack. According to Martin, the Assistant Trainer confided in him that he was upset  about the Pearl Harbor comments, finding them derogatory toward his heritage. 

You can look at the rest of that page yourself, but I refrained from posting it because of the profanity and the graphic sexual and racial slurs directed at the guy.

 

Could things have been that bad in Billick's last days as HC?

 

 

(Also, page 26 indicates Martin drank so heavily after losing to us that he missed a weightlifting session the next morning. Just thought I'd bring up the Ravens cameo)

[ratedr]

What facts are people waiting for? The report is fairly comprehensive. Incognito, Pouncey, Jerry, and Turner are scum.

[BloodRaven]

Context is the key here, what some people find offensive others consider harmless banter. I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with the culture in the Dolphins locker room.

[Inqui]

Context is the key here, what some people find offensive others consider harmless banter. I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with the culture in the Dolphins locker room.

Have a look at the report. If you want, I'll mark a few pages down some time tomorrow (I'm way too tired to go through it all again). The report factored in the context of lockerroom culture, how much of that culture was likely instigated by Incognito and even Martin's participation in the "banter", but it still comes down hard in Incognito, Pouncey and Jerry. It also gave a really strong context for those recent text messages.

[Inqui]

After getting through the first 50 pages of that report (so basically their summation of findings backed up by evidence), I'm shifting from being on the fence to being on Martin's side. The Dolphins have clearly created a toxic environment but Incognito's really something else. Pouncey and Jerry are pretty pathetic too, considering it sounds like they were just following his lead. I'd be open to changing my mind if something came up, but that report looked pretty comprehensive and it sounds like they gave Richie the chance to state his case.

 

The question becomes what happens to the Dolphins from here. Apparently Incognito and Jerry are FAs so they shouldn't return, while there's surely no way Turner has a career in the NFL from here. I also see O'Neill (head trainer iirc, the one who laughed off the racial slurs directed at the assistant) got hostile with the report to the point the lawyers made a note of it - I'd say he'll be lucky to get away with an involuntary Lovie Smith impression (taking a year off, whether cut by the Dolphins or banned by the league).

 

Philbin's a bit more debatable, but who's really available to replace him at this point? And you'd think Goodell wants to take at least a pick or two away from them. The whole incident's given the NFL a bit of a black eye imo (I know the NFL isn't cupcakes, skipping and holding hands around the fire while singing Kumbaya, but this doesn't look good for the league at all), so you'd think he wants to come down hard.

 

Dave Dameshek called Incognito a troglodyte a while ago. I think he was being nice.