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…
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…
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.
So yeah. That text Incognito got, was a little bit different than the voice mail he sent. It was a goofy Image Macro 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.
And the Wells report is 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.
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.
For his own sake I hope he finds another profession. Use that Ivy league degree and have a great life outside football.