Miami's Martin leaves team after 'emotional breakdown'

[Mr. Laz]

Jonathan Martin leaves Dolphins after 'breakdown'

By Dan Hanzus
Around the League Writer
Published: Oct. 30, 2013 at 06:39 p.m. Updated: Oct. 30, 2013 at 07:00 p.m.
An unusual situation is unfolding in Miami, where Dolphins right tackle Jonathan Martin has left the team after suffering an "emotional breakdown" this week.

NFL Media's Jeff Darlington reported Wednesday that Martin is currently seeking help with his family after an incident at the team's cafeteria, according to team sources.

Martin is listed on the team's injury report with an illness, and is doubtful to play Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that Martin was the victim of a prank at the cafeteria, becoming enraged enough to "smash his food tray on the ground."

The second-year pro has not been with the team since that time. Darlington reports that Martin immediately sought treatment at a local hospital. He has since left the hospital and is now spending time with his family, according to team sources.

Martin opened the season as the Dolphins' replacement for Jake Long at left tackle. He was moved to right tackle when the team acquired Bryant McKinnie via trade last week. Tyson Clabo is expected to start in Martin's place on Thursday.

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[CaliforniaChief]

Twitter meltdowns are awesome.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Richie is a douche

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Sam to the Dolphins

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by scott free

What texts were you reading?

"I miss us"

"the guys miss you"

"U ok bro"

Thats just the tip of the iceberg of the friendly tone of those, Incognito apparently even opened up to the guy about checking himself into a psych ward... this whole thing was a bunch of useless shit, I'm ready to bring Richie to KC and take over at guard at this point.

He'd be the pulling LG we'd always dreamed of.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Sorter

He'd be the pulling LG we'd always dreamed of.

That guy, Kush and Schwartz would be a damn solid interior... plus he'd bring the nasty attitude this team needs so badly.

I've always said I want 5 Olin Kreutz types on the line, he'd be a good start.

[Eleazar]

Incognito: Truth Will 'Bury' Martin


Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito is venting on Twitter again. On Wednesday, the formerly suspended Incognito had very strong messages for teammate Jonathan Martin on their high-profile bullying scandal.


The teammate Incognito refers to is receiver Brian Hartline.

Incognito also said Martin allegedly was having suicidal thoughts last spring.


Martin left the team in October and said Incognito harassed and bullied him. However, recently released text messages suggest the two communicated often. The Ted Wells report is expected to be released soon and detail the entire scope of their relationship.

Wednesday's tirade is in stark contrast to Incognito's thoughts on Martin from just eight days ago, when he tweeted that he supported Martin "100% in his return to football in 2014." It is unclear what changed between then and now.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross recently said neither player is expected to return to Miami. Incognito will become an unrestricted free agent in March. Martin, a 2012 second-round pick, still has two years left on his rookie contract but is expected to be traded or released.

Besides blasting Martin, Incognito also tweeted an apology to women on Wednesday for the language in his text messages with Martin that were leaked to the media recently.


However, Incognito said in an earlier tweet that vulgar language was the only thing of which he was guilty.


He ended his string of tweets shortly before 4 p.m. ET, saying he would have no further comment, directing reporters to contact his attorney.

[Eleazar]

Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
Dear Jon Martin..... The truth is going to bury you and your entire "camp". You could have told the truth the entire time.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
Jon Martin---you started all of this when Kenny Zuckerman released the VM to ESPN. The same VM we joked about with @brianhartline


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
FACT: Jonathan Martin told me he thought about taking his own life in MAY 2013 b/c he wasn't playing well. Told me he felt worthless.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
I apologize to all of the women out there that I offended with my text messages to my close personal friend.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
I'm guilty of being a loyal friend and good teammate. I apologize for my poor language and rude remarks. I've never denied it.
3:07 PM - 12 Feb 2014

[TEX]

I said all along that Martin is the biggest pussy to ever play the game.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
Dear Jon Martin..... The truth is going to bury you and your entire "camp". You could have told the truth the entire time.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
Jon Martin---you started all of this when Kenny Zuckerman released the VM to ESPN. The same VM we joked about with @brianhartline


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
FACT: Jonathan Martin told me he thought about taking his own life in MAY 2013 b/c he wasn't playing well. Told me he felt worthless.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
I apologize to all of the women out there that I offended with my text messages to my close personal friend.


Richie Incognito ✔ @68INCOGNITO
Follow
I'm guilty of being a loyal friend and good teammate. I apologize for my poor language and rude remarks. I've never denied it.
3:07 PM - 12 Feb 2014

As I've said before and now there's clearer evidence behind it....

Regardless of what Incognito did or did not do... If it's true that the Dolphins told Martin to punch Incognito or that they gave orders to Incognito to toughen Martin up, think for a second about why on Earth a team would think that was a good idea for a guy who was suicidal. I think Incognito was following orders. The Dolphins, on the other hand...

[blaise]

Do we know that the Dolphins were aware he was suicidal?

[Jimmya]

Martin = pus**

[kstater]

Ted Wells' independent report released today. Says Martin victim, Icognito, Pouncey, John Jerry, harrassed and intimidated not only Martin, but other, unnamed player as well. Feeling there's going to be league discipline now. Explains Incognito's blow up the other day.

[kstater]

Full report:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/ac...0-14072021.pdf

[kstater]

Starting to parse through this...

Incognito’s Entries in the Fine Book
Incognito made a number of notations in the offensive line’s fine book
following Martin’s departure. He recorded a $200 fine against himself for “breaking
Jmart,” awarded Nate Garner a $250 bonus for “not cracking first,” and wrote down the
following fines for Martin:
100 pussy
100 pussy
100 pussy
100 pussy
1,000,000.00 pussy

When interviewed, Incognito acknowledged that these fines were levied in
response to Martin’s decision to leave the team but claimed that the entire fine book was
no more than good-natured joking among the offensive linemen. At first, he claimed that
he did not know why he had been fined for “breaking Jmart.” Upon being told that the
notations appeared to be in his own handwriting, he did not deny that “breaking” another
player meant causing that player to have an emotional reaction as a result of verbal
taunting. He also said that the running bet on the line was that Garner would break first
from the verbal taunts, which is why Garner got a $250 bonus for “not cracking first,”
and that Martin was fined for being a “pussy” because no one just walks out of practice.

Incognito’s Attempted Destruction of the Fine Book
On November 3, Incognito wrote nearly identical text messages to both
Pouncey and Garner: “They’re going to suspend me Please destroy the fine book first
thing in the morning.” When asked about these text messages, Incognito claimed that he
believed it would be “misunderstood” if it was reviewed outside of the offensive line.
Neither player destroyed the fine book, and it was recovered weeks later.

[kstater]

Wow

After a thorough examination of the facts, we conclude that three starters on the Dolphins offensive line, Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, engaged in a pattern of harassment directed at not only Martin, but also another young Dolphins offensive lineman, whom we refer to as Player A for confidentiality reasons, and a member of the training staff, whom we refer to as the Assistant Trainer.
We find that the Assistant Trainer repeatedly was targeted with racial slurs and other racially derogatory
language. Player A frequently was subjected to homophobic name-calling and improper physical touching. Martin was taunted on a persistent basis with sexually explicit remarks about his sister and his mother and at times ridiculed with racial insults and other offensive comments.


In 2013, the Dolphins distributed a workplace conduct policy to all
players, and Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey each signed an acknowledgement form stating
that he understood the policy and agreed to be bound by it. The policy defines
harassment to include “unwelcome contact; jokes, comments and antics; generalizations
and put-downs.” Guided by this policy, it was not difficult to conclude that the Assistant
Trainer and Player A were harassed, but the questions raised in Martin’s case were more
complex, nuanced and difficult.