Hazing and Bullying

[chipbrierre]

I know this isn't directly related to the Canes, but it can apply in a friendly discussion. I was at Dolphins yesterday covering the Incognito-Martin story, and the entire team was backing Incognito, believing that Martin was being too "soft". But when you look at the things that were said and the past history, it's hard to believe that anybody can back a guy who is clearly a racist, a bigot and a bully. So my question to you guys, as I always love to get different opinions to help me get a feel for how others see it, what are your thoughts on bullying within a team, in the locker room, on the field, financial hazing, etc..? And it can be Canes related or not. I'll probably do more of these as we go along, but if you guys don't want em, just let me know and I'll stop. Thanks

 

[Docholliday03]

I dont understand anyone backing Incognito. The guy has a history of just being a bad dude. Its amazing to me his teammates are backing him. I will never understand the hazing stuff either. I get the whole right of passage thing. Playing pratical jokes, having rookies/freshman dress up or sing. But thats about as far as it should go. I heard an old interview of Incognito talking about Tannehill and how he was gonna get a jet ski out of him as a rookie. That because he protects him on the field he said pretty much he felt entitled to it. And that he was gonna get the money out of him one way or another. Dude is just a ****, Martin shoulda whooped his ***.

 

[mlw352]

I remember him calling him big weirdo on hard knocks but for me its about respect he obviously had none and had little man symptoms to show the sort of hate he was spewing but most football players are arrogant anyway from life long *** kissing

 

[drifters1234]

I dont understand anyone backing Incognito. The guy has a history of just being a bad dude. Its amazing to me his teammates are backing him. I will never understand the hazing stuff either. I get the whole right of passage thing. Playing pratical jokes, having rookies/freshman dress up or sing. But thats about as far as it should go. I heard an old interview of Incognito talking about Tannehill and how he was gonna get a jet ski out of him as a rookie. That because he protects him on the field he said pretty much he felt entitled to it. And that he was gonna get the money out of him one way or another. Dude is just a ****, Martin shoulda whooped his ***.

Good post. I agree.

 

[chipbrierre]

I dont understand anyone backing Incognito. The guy has a history of just being a bad dude. Its amazing to me his teammates are backing him. I will never understand the hazing stuff either. I get the whole right of passage thing. Playing pratical jokes, having rookies/freshman dress up or sing. But thats about as far as it should go. I heard an old interview of Incognito talking about Tannehill and how he was gonna get a jet ski out of him as a rookie. That because he protects him on the field he said pretty much he felt entitled to it. And that he was gonna get the money out of him one way or another. Dude is just a ****, Martin shoulda whooped his ***.

Good post. I agree.

Yea for the Tannehill bit Incognito was on LeBatard show and they asked him about the rookie bill. Incognito replied, "We're going to take Ryan to get us jet skis." LeBatard was in somewhat disbelief but Incognito continued and explained how it would go down. It was rather noticeable in hindsight

 

[Dghustla]

Pranks and getting rookies/freshman to sing in front of the team or carry bags are one thing. But thesE allegations of verbal abuse and Constance intimidation is another. Just because a guy plays football doesn't mean that he settles all of his problems with physical violence. Martin was a second year player. He went along with Incognitos antics for an entire year. Clearly Incognito wasn't interested in moving on to other rookies and continued to target Martin. The fact that dolphins players back incognito shows why they are a collective group of losers and will always be losers. They just don't "get it" . There is no unity on that team. I think back to hard knocks when pouncey threatened to fight another player in locker room during practice and that was all I needed to know about the fins.

 

[TexasCane90]

I dont understand anyone backing Incognito. The guy has a history of just being a bad dude. Its amazing to me his teammates are backing him. I will never understand the hazing stuff either. I get the whole right of passage thing. Playing pratical jokes, having rookies/freshman dress up or sing. But thats about as far as it should go. I heard an old interview of Incognito talking about Tannehill and how he was gonna get a jet ski out of him as a rookie. That because he protects him on the field he said pretty much he felt entitled to it. And that he was gonna get the money out of him one way or another. Dude is just a ****, Martin shoulda whooped his ***.

This. Handle it like most men would have. Obviously lacked respect for Martin and if I was him I'd get it from Incognito cause it seems his teammates support hazing to the point were its comical things they expect out of rookies jet skis, trips without them included which they paid.

 

[dycane]

Incognito has serious issues. I could win a Pulitzer reporting the stories I've heard. He's not right at all.

 

[chipbrierre]

Incognito has serious issues. I could win a Pulitzer reporting the stories I've heard. He's not right at all.

Like what? Could you elaborate?

 

[SFbayCane]

I wanted to beat Ben Affleck's character's *** in the movie Dazed and Confused.

 

[Docholliday03]

Now from Martin's point of view. Maybe he didn't fight back or go to team management because he could see they were creating an environment that encouraged this type of behavior. Incognito is a vet, a starter. If Martin splits dudes face open maybe he is out of a job. And it took him finally just mentally breaking to just walk away and say "I've had enough". Remember the incident that finally broke him it wasn't just Incognito, it was the offensive line unit as a whole that participated. The other "men" on this team that didn't step up and put Incognito in his place should feel some responsibility for letting this behavior continue as well.

 

[Bryden1207]

Firstly, this had nothing to do with the locker room atmosphere. Martin was not being hazed he was being bullied which is a HUGE difference.

Second, I would've blindsided Incognito with my helmet in the locker room if he had tried some **** like that on me. But as far as Martin, he should of stood up for himself. He is a grown *** man Incognito cant make him do **** if Martin did not want to do it.

Third, I felt like his teammates did not know how serious the situation was and to be honest I don't see what they could have done to stop Incognito from harassing him due to the fact no one can stop a bully from bulling someone without higher authority.

Finally, Incognito can go to **** and Martin is a freaking punk. Not because he didnt fight but because he did not stand up for himself and how he handled the situation terribly. Not only because he abandoned his team the way that he did but because he did not tell proper and higher authorities about the situation.

 

[miami_yak]

I don't know how incognito was on the team's 6 player leaders council. That says it all right there, especially with his past. Martin should have stood for himself as a man but it's hard for him to go higher when dude that's harassing him is in a position of power and has the backing of their fellow players and the coaching staff.

 

[acento]

The fact that they all backed Incognito shows just how far that locker room's morals have gone astray. I have to believe that it became so common that they all began to accept it as normal.

 

[rok]

Chip whats it like working with Will Manso?

 

[Bryden1207]

The fact that they all backed Incognito shows just how far that locker room's morals have gone astray. I have to believe that it became so common that they all began to accept it as normal.

So you know that the players knew about Incognito bullying Martin the whole time or assuming?

 

[acento]

The fact that they all backed Incognito shows just how far that locker room's morals have gone astray. I have to believe that it became so common that they all began to accept it as normal.

So you know that the players knew about Incognito bullying Martin the whole time or assuming?

That's a fair point. I am assuming they know based on some of the stories that have surfaced (whole O-line playing pranks on him, Incognito extorting money from him and others, etc). But to your point, who knows what everyone knew.

 

[Ernie McCracken]

I think Martin is soft. The dolphins players are right

 

[Flcane]

They both should be cut. Richie took it over the top, but what Martin did is unforgivable. If I had to pick one, I would take Incognito. Not surprised that Ireland would pick a soft shouldered player for the position that needs to have the most ruthlessness.

 

[Stingarov]

Such a puerile manner to carry themselves. It's not enough that they're the elite of the elite in terms of toughness, athleticism, talent, and tenacity at a difficult competition. Nope, have to go the whole nine yards and live the "truck nuts" persona, filling out every caricature of brain-dead bullying behemoths to a tee. It's truly pitiful, and it doesn't have to be that way -- they could band together as brothers, as they ought to, as I've seen and been a part of first hand.

Bullying, yes, but it goes far beyond that. Much of what Incognito stated was arguably criminal, will likely be argued to be criminal under Florida law, and will cost him or the Dolphins upwards of $18 million. Frankly, the NFL needs to make an example out of Incognito to set these cowardly veteran teammates straight. Nothing more cowardly than veterans on the team watching as someone pushes a young Jon Ogden type--a giant of a man who carries himself quietly & intelligently and lets his play speak for itself--around relentlessly. But in all reality, they were more than complicit in Incognito's actions, based on their comments and what's known about the locker room incident. And all those saying he should have kept it in-house seem to want more than anything a lack of light shed on this sewer-sucking subculture running roughshod in the NFL today. As an addiction medicine specialist I train with says, a family is as sick as it secrets, so if this is a family, then Martin did it a gigantic favor by blowing the lid wide open.

/Not saying as talented as Ogden, in before the rebuts roll.