# The Miami Dolphins Bullying Kerfuffle (MDBK) - we don't have a thread on this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415 "2013-11-08T11:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/101 "2013-11-10T12:29:26Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Verbally abusing member of the opposing team. Fifteen yard penalty. > > Next? Really? You’re kidding, right? How often is a trash talker going to be in a position to be heard by a ref? When a corner breaks up a pass and puts a cherry on it by leaning into the receiver and whispering obscenely about their mother, or how they own that receiver now, that’s going to get heard? I remember when Kevin Garnett got under 'Melo Anthony’s skin by commenting how he (KG) knew that 'Melo’s wife “tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios” - that clearly set 'Melo off, so he thought it was verbal abuse ;). ??? Again, I am against hazing, abuse and all of that. I am simply trying to see how a violent, aggressive sport can draw lines and enforce them in any consistent manner… ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/102 "2013-11-10T13:05:14Z")
If the NFL wanted to stop this kind of thing it would be trivially easy. Just put a mike in every player’s helmet. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/103 "2013-11-10T14:34:16Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > If the NFL wanted to stop this kind of thing it would be trivially easy. Just put a mike in every player’s helmet. Really? And, what, listen for references to Honey Nut Cheerios? Seriously, if two lineman line up and one says “I am going to own you - push you back, fuck you up, and kill the QB you’re supposed to protect” - do you really think that can and should be policed? Near as I can tell, that happens pretty much every play… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/104 "2013-11-10T15:10:01Z")
> [@Jesse\_Pinkman](#): > > They were hazing. Part of the reasons why sports teams haze their new players is because they want to make sure that you can take the heat that the players on the other teams are going to give you. You think everyone’s got a compliment for one another on the field? Hell no, especially in the NFL. You’re playing against other players who literally earn their bread and butter trying to beat you, and they’re going to talk trash and play dirty to try and get in your head. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Part of the reason hazing exists is to establish that the victim can tolerate hazing? It seems at best questionable logic to argue that the best preventative to the possible stress of hazing is more hazing. If you accept that logic, shouldn’t coaches also be injuring their own players in order to get them used to the possibility that the other team might injure them in a game? It would seem like a better plan would be to foster the idea that the other team is going to attack you but your own team is going to defend you. Build up a sense of unit loyalty like they do in the military. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/105 "2013-11-10T15:46:48Z")
I though that NFL teammates treated each other like colleagues, comrades, fellow “warriors.” Not like children on a schoolyard playground. Silly me. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/106 "2013-11-10T20:47:21Z")
[http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/10/richie-incognito-im-not-a-racist-dont-judge-me-by-that-word/related/](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/10/richie-incognito-im-not-a-racist-dont-judge-me-by-that-word/related/) > [@](#): > > “In no way, shape or form is it ever acceptable for me to use that word, even if it’s friend to friend, on a voicemail,” Incognito said. “It’s thrown around a lot. It’s a word that I’ve heard Jon use a lot. Not saying it’s right when I did it in the voicemail, but there’s a lot of colorful words thrown around in the locker room that we don’t use in everyday life.” > > Incognito said he and Martin communicated in a way that many people wouldn’t understand — including Martin texting Incognito and jokingly threatening to “murder your whole f–king family.” But Incognito knows how people view him right now. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/107 "2013-11-11T04:14:12Z")
So yeah. That text Incognito got, was a little bit different than the voice mail he sent. It was a [goofy Image Macro](http://deadspin.com/the-threatening-text-that-martin-sent-to-incognito-wa-1461938725) that had a caption on a weird looking dog with the offending phrase. Two things this taught me. Incognito is brazen enough to bring up something that was a very very obvious joke and not in any way analogous to what he did as a defense for his behavior. That Martin should be spending his time away from the NFL surfing for funnier images to text out to people. That one is pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/108 "2013-11-11T12:23:19Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > So yeah. That text Incognito got, was a little bit different than the voice mail he sent. It was a [goofy Image Macro](http://deadspin.com/the-threatening-text-that-martin-sent-to-incognito-wa-1461938725) that had a caption on a weird looking dog with the offending phrase… :dubious: That puts it in a bit different light from how Incognito referenced it… ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/109 "2013-11-11T17:27:38Z")
[If he’s to be believed, they have one messed up relationship.](http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/10/us/richie-incognito-interview/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) > [@](#): > > Incognito acknowledged in an interview aired on “Fox NFL Sunday” that he used racist and vulgar language in voice mails and text messages to Martin but said it was “coming from a place of love.” Oh, it all makes sense now! It was Backwards Day! ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/110 "2014-02-14T20:15:45Z")
And the Wells report is [released](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1960345-jonathan-martin-richie-incognito-investigation-report-released?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cnn-sports-bin&hpt=hp_bn15#articles/1960345-jonathan-martin-richie-incognito-investigation-report-released). Not a good day for Incognito, Jerry, Pouncey and the 'Fins coaching staff. The front office seems to have survived and Incognito’s lawyer is spinning faster than a top, though. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415/111 "2014-02-14T20:53:54Z")
Martin’s emails to his mom are disturbing. He’s got some major depression issues. I think it will be a huge mistake for him to return to the NFL. What he’ll hear and experience out on the field will make Richie Incognito seem like a choirboy. Martin will be a target on the field. > **[Richie Incognito and two other players DID harass Jonathan Martin](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2559541/Independent-investigation-finds-Miami-Dolphins-guard-Richie-Incognito-not-player-harassed-Jonathan-Martin-including-team-trainer-bullied-pattern-harassment.html)** > > An investigation found that at least three players - including shamed guard Richie Incognito - harassed not only Martin, but several other players on the Miami Dolphins. For his own sake I hope he finds another profession. Use that Ivy league degree and have a great life outside football. > [@](#): > > In many of the messages Martin wrote to his family he describes being depressed because people think he’s ‘soft,’ or a ‘pushover’ who lets people walk all over him. > > ‘I care about my legacy as a professional athlete. But I’m miserable currently. A therapist & medication won’t help me gain the respect of my teammates. I really don’t know what to do Mom,’ Martin wrote to his mother in an email on April 2013. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miami-dolphins-bullying-kerfuffle-mdbk-we-dont-have-a-thread-on-this/673415.md?page=5)