It is a dark time in the NFL, probably the darkest since the
New Orleans Saints Bounty Gate scandal in 2010. In October 2013 Miami Dolphins Offensive
Tackle Jonathan Martin abruptly left the Miami Dolphin and hasn’t been back
with the team since because he felt bullied by other Dolphin offensive linemen.
A prominent criminal attorney Ted Wells was hired by the NFL to conduct an
investigation of the Dolphins locker room activity for bullying; his 148 page
report was released yesterday. The link to the report is provided below and
please be warned no censorship is provided in the report nor this post and the
information gathered during the investigation is graphic, inappropriate, and
disturbing.
The Dolphins offensive lineman, Richie Incognito, John Jerry
and Mike Pouncey, engaged in a pattern of harassment directed at not only
Martin, but also another young Dolphins offensive lineman, whom is refer to as
Player A for confidentiality reasons in the report, and a member of the
training staff, whom is refer to as the Assistant Trainer. The report finds
that the Assistant Trainer repeatedly was targeted with racial slurs and other
racially derogatory language. Player A frequently was subjected to homophobic
name-calling and improper physical touching. 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. All the
information used in the post came from the investigation report.
Now before I go off on a rant explaining some of the key
events that happened over the last almost two years, let’s go over a key point
first. Neither Dolphin upper management (Owner Stephen Ross and former General
Manager Jeff Ireland) as well as Head Coach Joe Philbin had no knowledge of any
events according to the report.
During this post we will go over the harassment of Martin,
the unnamed Dolphin player (player A), the unnamed assistant trainer, the
history of Incognito, and then conclude with my recommendations to NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell.
First and foremost event is the sexual taunting of Martin’s
sister and mother. On many occasions Incognito, Jerry, and Pouncey would make
derogatory comments toward Martin about his sister including the following four
used most often...
·
We are going to
run train on your sister. She loves me. I’m going to fuck her without a condom
and cum in her cunt.
·
Hey, Jmart’s
sister is in town. Get the plastic sheets ready, she’s a squirter.
·
I’m going to bang
the shit out of her and spit on her and treat her like shit.
·
Hear our sister has a wolf-puss. A fat, hairy
pussy
In case any of you don’t know what a “running a train” means
it is defined in the link below.
In addition to the clearly disturbing and abusive statement
made by the three players, they also did things on the practice field to taunt
Martin. According to Martin on the practice field Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey
would call his sister a “squirter” and then squirt water onto the field from
their water bottles, and that while engaged in certain warm-up stretching
exercises, they would simulate having sex with his sister. Martin also claimed
that Jerry at one point said he wanted to have sex with Martin’s sister and his
mother at the same time.
By Martin’s account, Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey did not
frequently make similar sexual remarks about family members to other
players—only to him… For example, on September 14, 2013, the following text
message exchange took place among members of the offensive line:
o
Incognito: J mart. Ur such a fucking nerd.
THAT’S A FINE
o
Pouncey: He’s salty about his fines!
o
Incognito: I would be too if I smelled like a
camels dick
o
Pouncey: Lol
o
Jerry: Bap Bap
o
Martin: You know what a camel dick smells like?
o
Pouncey: Lol sensitivity fine!
o
Incognito: No Ur mother told me in vivid detail
tho
o
Pouncey: Lmao!
o
Tyson Clabo: Mom jokes!
o
Incognito: Bap bap
o
Jerry: Chill Bro Chill!!!!!!
o
Incognito: I flew jmarts sister into Indy. My
dick is dry and needs some of her healing squirt juices
o
Jerry: Wow I want in
o
Pouncey: I will pay
o
Martin: Ohh SICK BURN you guys are so original.
. . Not
o
Clabo: I just wanna watch
o
Pouncey: Lol we are going to fuck u up
o
Incognito: Caught red handed
o
Pouncey: Clabo you’re a perv
o
Incognito: Clabo can watch We need someone to
videotape
As if the taunting wasn’t enough to cause Martin to leave
the team, there is the whole “fine book” situation.
Approximately one week after Martin left the team, on
November 3, 2013, Incognito wrote nearly identical text messages to Pouncey and
another lineman: “They’re going to suspend me Please destroy the fine book
first thing in the morning.” The fines, which were recorded (often by
Incognito) in a spiral notebook known as the “fine book,” generally ranged from
$10 to $500 dollars. The money was paid to Clabo, an offensive tackle who
served as the line’s “treasurer.” Clabo kept the accrued paid “fines,” which by
November 2013 amounted to approximately $35,000, in his locker, saving the
money to fund a post-season vacation trip for the group. Examples of the
smaller fine are: Incognito recorded a $200 fine against himself for “breaking
Jmart,” and a number of fines against Martin for acting like a “pussy.” Of course
those are examples of the smaller fine, however; during January 2013 Martin was
fined $10,000 for not attending a group trip to Las Vegas. Martin repeatedly
was told that he was required to pay this fine, and he eventually did. Martin
reported that he paid the money because he did not believe his teammates were
kidding with him and that he felt coerced into paying.
On November first only hours after Incognito wrote, “I’m
here for you my dude” to Martin, Incognito exchanged the following text messages
with Pouncey:
o
Incognito: Fuck Jmart That faggot is never
[allowed] back
o
Pouncey: Bro I said the same thing I can’t even
look at him the same he’s a pussy
o
Incognito: My agent just asked if we held
mandatory strip club meetings Jmart is fucking ratting on everyone
o
Pouncey: Lol wow are you serious he is a fuck
boy
o
Pouncey: He’s not welcome back bro I can’t be
around that fucking guy
o
Incognito: Fuck that guy if Ur not with [u]s Ur
against us
o
Pouncey: No question bro he’s a coward for
snitching
o
Incognito: Snitches get stitches Blood in blood
out Fucking guy
o
Pouncey: He’s dead to me
Now we move on to the abuse the other Dolphins offensive
lineman took; referred to as Player A in the report.
Player A like Martin, he is quiet and unassuming. During his
time with the team, Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey frequently taunted Player A
with homophobic insults. He often was called a “fag” or a “faggot” in a
demeaning tone. Incognito reportedly accused him of “sucking dick” and “pissing
while sitting down” and asked him “where’s your boyfriend?” Incognito
acknowledged that Player A, although not actually believed to be gay, was
spoken to in this manner repeatedly and persistently—he got it “every day from
everybody, high frequency.” In addition, Incognito and others acknowledged that
Player A was routinely touched by Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey in a mockingly
suggestive manner, including on his rear end, while being taunted about his
supposed homosexuality. Incognito specifically admitted that he would grab
Player A and ask for a hug as part of this “joke.” Martin said that on one
particularly disturbing occasion, Pouncey physically restrained Player A, and,
in full view of other players, jokingly told Jerry to “come get some pussy,”
and that Jerry responded by touching Player A’s butt in a way that simulated
anal penetration.
In addition to the abuse from his teammates, Player A
received abuse from Dolphins’ Offensive Line Coach Jim Turner. Turner was aware
of the running “joke” that Player A was gay, and on at least one occasion, he
participated in the taunting. Around Christmas 2012, Coach Turner gave the
offensive linemen gift bags that included a variety of stocking stuffers. The
gifts included inflatable female dolls for all of the offensive linemen except
Player A, who received a male “blow-up” doll. Martin and another player
reported that they were surprised Coach Turner did this; Martin further said
that he was offended that Turner had endorsed the humiliating treatment of
Player A by participating in it. Incognito and others agreed that this incident
with Coach Turner occurred. When interviewed, Turner was asked if he gave
Player A a male blow-up doll. He replied, “I can’t remember.”
Moving along now to the Assistant Trainer, who was born in
Japan, was the target of frequent and persistent harassment, including insults
relating to his race and national origin. Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey admitted
that they directed racially derogatory words toward him, including “Jap” and
“Chinaman.” At times, according to Martin, they referred to the Assistant
Trainer as a “dirty communist” or a “North Korean,” made demands such as “give
me some water you fucking chink,” spoke to him in a phony, mocking Asian
accent, including asking for “rubby rubby sucky sucky,” and called his mother a
“rub and tug masseuse.” Martin and others informed us that Incognito and Jerry
taunted the Assistant Trainer with jokes about having sex with his girlfriend.
Incognito admitted that these types of comments were made to the Assistant
Trainer. 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.
That is the key points of the Wells report but let’s look
deeper into Incognito and his past.
·
In the 44 regular season games he played for the
Rams over a three year span, Incognito committed 38 penalties, seven of which
were for unnecessary roughness. The NFL fined Incognito in connection with four
of his infractions; collectively, the penalties amounted to $85,000.
·
In 2009, The Sporting News named him the
“Dirtiest Player in the NFL.”
·
In a December 2009 game against the Tennessee
Titans, Incognito committed two personal fouls for unnecessary roughness, and
he was benched after engaging in an on-field yelling match with his head coach.
These penalties led the NFL to impose $50,000 in fines on Incognito, and he was
cut from the Rams’ roster.
·
In May 2012 Incognito allegedly molested a
female volunteer at the tournament. He was accused of using a golf club to
touch her genitals, touching her inappropriately with his body, squirting water
on her and other inappropriate conduct, and she filed a report with the police.
Incognito was not charged with a crime, but he entered into a confidential
civil settlement to resolve the matter; news reports claim that he made a
payment of $30,000.
·
Specifically, on December 13, 2012, Incognito
and a former Dolphins offensive lineman, who is white, communicated about
purchasing guns, apparently for recreational purposes. (The report identified
the former Dolphin as Player B.) The discussion veered into jokes about
shooting black people:
o
Player B: Especially if u plan living in Arizona
in the future, that’s exactly what you want
o
Incognito: Yea. For picking off zombies
o
Player B: Lol isn’t that why we own any
weapons!?
o
Incognito: That and black people
o
Player B: Mmm def all black ppl
Four days later, Incognito and
Player B discussed rifle scopes in text messages.
o
Player B: Yes. That’s a solid optic made
specifically for a .308 battle rifle
o
Incognito: Perfect for shooting black people
o
Player B: Lol exactly
o
Player B: Or Jeff Ireland
So what was originally reported back in October 2013 that Incognito
was bullying Martin has turned out to be multiple players and coaches bullying
an abusing multiple other players and an assistant trainer.
Now that I am 2055 words into this post, let’s get to my
suggestions to Goodell on punishment. The NFL docked the Saints two second
round picks, fined the team $500,000 dollars, suspended Head Coach Sean Payton
for a year, suspended General Manager Mickey Loomis eight games and fined him
$500,000 dollars, suspended Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams for what
turned out to be a year and then gave individual suspensions to the four
players involved that none of them actually served.
While that was paying players to deliberately injury other
players is serious; these events are almost as serious. My suggestion to
Goodell are as followed:
·
Fine the Dolphins $500,000 dollars and dock them
a second round pick in the 2014 NFL draft and a fourth round pick in the 2015
draft.
·
Fine Head Coach Philbin $150,000 dollars and
suspend him for eight games.
·
Fine Offensive Line Coach Turner $250,000
dollars, suspended him for a year, and terminate his current contract with the
Dolphins.
·
Fine Offensive Lineman Jerry and Pouncey
$1,000,000 dollars each and suspended each of them for a year with a lifetime
probation in the NFL.
·
Fine Offensive Lineman Clabo $250,000 dollars
and suspend him for four games.
·
Fine Offensive Lineman Incognito $2,500,000
dollars and give him a lifetime ban from the NFL without appeal.
·
Have the Dolphins pay in full the remaining two
years of Offensive Lineman Martin’s original four year $4.5 million dollar
contract and release him from his current deal without penalty, and pay
$250,000 dollars to each the unnamed Dolphins offensive lineman (known as
Player A in report) and the assistant trainer for damages done to them.
My reasoning behind the punishment? While the report
concludes that Dolphins management and head coach didn’t know what was going on
it is their responsibility to know what is going on within their team. Coach
Turner not only knew what was going on and didn’t put a stop to it but even encouraged
it hence why he needs fined, suspended, and fired. Jerry and Pouncey were major
players in these events but were the following the lead of Incognito which is
the only reason I am giving them a second chance in the NFL. Clabo had a
smaller role than both Jerry and Pouncey but was still part of the events but
to a lesser extent so deserves a smaller fine and suspension. Incognito has repeatedly
had run ins with the NFL and the law and has been given way too many second
chances to deserve another after these events. A lifetime ban is the only
suiting punishment for a man who presents himself this way; a manner the NFL shouldn’t
and can’t stand for.
