11.06.2013

What the Real Problem Is

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Admit it.

You've seen an instance or two like this and thought that it was just the way teams welcomed in the newest members of the league. Rookies do get the short end of the stick...because they're rookies. It's always been that way...in just about every sport.



But the NFL does it a little bit different. See, in the NFL, there's no dressing up like teen idols. There's no wearing Spongebob or Dora the Explorer backpacks. No, it's a little more physically demanding than that.  NFL rookies, as you saw above, have been taped to goal posts and powered, drenched in Gatorade and given ridiculous haircuts just to name some of the things we've witnessed.

Recently, the Miami Dolphins have been thrown into the spotlight because of alleged hazing actions by veteran offensive lineman Richie Incognito against rookie Jonathan Martin. Allegedly, Incognito left Martin a derogatory voicemail demeaning him by race and by telling Marting what he'd do to him. I won't go into the details. You can read the voicemail for yourself...or what Adam Schefter wrote about the voicemail.





I think we're all capable of reading.

Since these accusations have come to light, national media has been all over it.







Listen. Part of the problem here is that people have this idea that what happened here between Martin and Incognito was hazing and a lot of the blame should be handed to the national media. I don't know all the details, but what I know is that voicemail isn't hazing. It's beyond that. It is officially considered player misconduct, but it is a deplorable act. What Incognito allegedly left on Martin's voicemail and his phone should not be tolerated and he should be suspended for it. Granted, the Dolphins have already done so, but the question is did the Dolphins do it because the information leaked?

Now, everyone seems to be on this crusade to end NFL hazing. That's funny to me because just a couple of months ago, stations were sending cameramen out to get clips of rookies being hazed. It's the one odd clip that makes the news during OTAs and preseason. The other is a fight between teammates during a scrimmage or game simulation.

I'm not saying it shouldn't end because, quite frankly, I like a good (cheap) prank every once in a while myself. Tying a guy to a goal post for a little while isn't bad. Dumping a guy in the cold tub ins't bad. Calling a guy a "half n*****" is bad. Saying you're going to defecate in another person's mouth is a bad thing.

Photo Courtesy of Philly.com
The other part of the problem is Incognito has this bad rap where he doesn't know where the line is when it comes to where to stop. The crazy part is Incognito, who has been suspended and is expected to be released by the Dolphins, will more than likely find another job because NFL coaches like offensive linemen who have a mean streak within them. Coaches like nasty offensive linemen. They apparently get the job done.

So, what does that say about Martin? This guy left the team after allegations of player misconduct. In the general working world, what Martin did would be the right thing. He could possibly find a job doing exactly what he does elsewhere. But this is the NFL we're talking about and the culture in NFL locker rooms is more like a band of brothers. All serious business has to be kept in house and Martin supposedly didn't do that. Should he not return to the Dolphins organizations, players will probably wonder if they can trust him around other rookies who may have a veteran's jersey number etched into their hair with a set of clippers.

I'm not saying Martin should have kept quiet. Truthfully, I would have done it if it were me. But Incognito crossed a line that should never be crossed with folks. End of story. Needless to say, this fiasco won't be ending any time soon.
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