Little did the rest of the world know that Jonathan Martin, a bright young man and NFL offensive lineman, was battling an inner demon, better known as his teammate Richie Incognito.
Jonathan Martin is in his second year with the Miami Dolphins after the team drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. A Stanford University graduate, Martin possessed the physical prowess to hold his own and a brain that would outsmart most.
Despite this double-threat, Martin could not overcome the threats and abuse from teammate and line-partner Incognito. After a string of events dating back to his inception with the Dolphins, Martin left the team the day of their Thursday night contest against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Courtesy: ABC News
Reporters have been buzzing around the Dolphins facility, trying desperately to get their hands on juicy quotes. The team has remained mum but Martin’s agent, Kenneth Zuckerman, released a voicemail that Incognito sent his client last year. Among the many putrid words Incognito spat, the “N” word is the one receiving the most attention.
Incognito, who was voted the NFL’s dirtiest player, has been suspended indefinitely and is watching his name get drudged through the mud. His reputation has not helped his cause, many not willing to give him a second chance because of his past issues including getting kicked out of Nebraska and an on-field jawing with then-St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
While the masses are throwing stones at Incognito, should we all not wait for more findings before casting judgment? Should we not see if this man needs psychiatric help? As vile as the “N” word is, the bigger issue at hand is why a grown man feels the need to treat fellow human beings like such scum.
Hazing has not been an issue that the NFL has encountered before. Sure, the tapings to the goal post and forcing rookies into ice baths are viewed as “hazing” but it’s more of a rite of passage. This incident is more than hazing, it’s bullying and though the term is commonly used with school children, the same can be said for an adult that is being mistreated by his peers.
While scouring the web for late, breaking news, I came across the wonderful Deadspin.com, the best yellow journalism site on the web. One of the stories pertained to Ricky Williams, the former Heisman Trophy winning running back and marijuana enthusiasts. Williams was answering questions from all readers that wanted to pick the brain of one interesting man.
A former teammate of Incognito’s, Williams received many questions of the recent ordeal and what he thought of the news. One question that stood out came from a visitor asking Williams if he thought social media and other factors have brought to light a heightened level of racism.
Williams’ response was surprising and he came to defense of Incognito. Ricky stated, “I know Richie and you cannot be a racist and ask a black man for help. Not possible. Richie asked me for help.”
After reading his response I set out to see what “help” Incognito asked for, hoping to find something relevant. Voila! I came across a story pertaining to Incognito’s troubles and how he sought help. He asked his teammate at the time, Williams for help, specifically meditation.
Williams knew his helpless lineman needed guidance so he obliged and made a CD full of chants and helpful tracks. The story documented many troubling experiences that followed the New Jersey native since his childhood.
The tatted up Incognito may look like a powerful man but on the inside he’s powerless. Bullied as a child, Incognito and his family relocated to Arizona for a fresh start. The trouble continued, and when Incognito went anywhere, trouble followed.
He was a promising college athlete but acted himself out of two reputable programs. His professional career has followed suit. Though, with these incidents being public, why have we not felt empathy for a human being that is clearly in need of desperate help?
The victim is truly Martin, a kid who is being attacked in spite, not because he’s done anything but because he served as an easy target. Incognito is attacking Martin because he, Incognito, is the weak one. Despite the tatted arms and imposing size, Incognito is a small man.
Football players are often looked at as if they are robots, without feeling. While Incognito is being viewed as the culprit, some are wondering if this isn’t one of his many cries for help. How long can this charade go on until someone from his inner circle forces him to the realization that he needs help?
It’s unfortunate that Martin found himself in the crosshairs and had to step away from his career because he felt unsafe. Shame on Incognito, and shame on the Dolphins for allowing this type of treatment to continue under their watch. This type of behavior should have been axed the second it reared its ugly head.
Instead, the players within the Dolphins organization allowed it to continue without trying to stop it. Now two players will be left picking up the pieces, wonder what it will take to correct this. Martin will use his absence of a way to recuperate while Incognito should use this time to check into a facility that can address his need to hurt others.
Incognito has created a firestorm that he will need to bear but as individuals we need to understand that he is in desperate need of professional help. His brazen lifestyle was just a farce to protect him from the pain he felt inside and during his indefinite leave he needs to look in the mirror and chip away the blemishes.
