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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[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Where did you read that players were taking cheap shots at him in practice? What other players were harassing the living shit out of him as you put it? Incognito was the snitch on the leadership council? Interesting.

It was asked what could possibly happen so I threw out plenty of realistic possibilities.

Ryan Leaf fought back -- Junior Seau stole his credit card and then sent a message cheap shot to his own teammate in practice. Dez Bryant refused to carry Roy Williams' pads in practice. Williams' retaliation? He invited the defense to the team dinner and forced a $55,000 tab onto Bryant. If not for Dez whining about it in social media, Roy would have gotten away with it. But Dez got viewed as a cancer for doing that. If Dez wasn't a superstar, would that have damaged his standing with the team?

Incognito's role on the leadership council is important. I didn't say he was a snitch. I'm saying he was in a position to be one. If Martin refused to pay for Vegas, what could stop Incognito from communicating to coaches that Martin was a terrible team player and needed to be benched and possibly cut?

[patteeu]

As far as Martin standing up to Incognito is concerned, the fact that so many other players have spoken out on behalf of Incognito suggests that that might be easier said than done. It's very possible that Martin was unpopular with his teammates. He's big, but it's not clear that he's big enough to take Incognito to begin with, much less if the rest of the team is aligned against him.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 23m
Ryan Tannehill: "If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he'd say Richie Incognito."


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 14m
Tannehill has strong words about the relationship between Incognito and Martin, noting Incognito was always first to be at Martin's side.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 12m
In reference to the prank that occurred before Martin left team, Tannehill says the team played the same prank on Tannehill multiple times.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 6m
Do not discount Tannehill's sentiment. He knows this team, and these players, better than you do. And he put his name behind his words.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 23m
Ryan Tannehill: "If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he'd say Richie Incognito."


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 14m
Tannehill has strong words about the relationship between Incognito and Martin, noting Incognito was always first to be at Martin's side.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 12m
In reference to the prank that occurred before Martin left team, Tannehill says the team played the same prank on Tannehill multiple times.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 6m
Do not discount Tannehill's sentiment. He knows this team, and these players, better than you do. And he put his name behind his words.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 23m
Ryan Tannehill: "If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he'd say Richie Incognito."


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 14m
Tannehill has strong words about the relationship between Incognito and Martin, noting Incognito was always first to be at Martin's side.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 12m
In reference to the prank that occurred before Martin left team, Tannehill says the team played the same prank on Tannehill multiple times.


Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington 6m
Do not discount Tannehill's sentiment. He knows this team, and these players, better than you do. And he put his name behind his words.

Sorry, I don't trust a word anybody within the organization has to say right now. Everybody on the Chiefs also stood behind Matt Cassel for 3 years too.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

IF the NFL works like any other company management represents the company and their actions are automatically a potential liability. If this is indeed a result of something management ordered there will be consequences.

Very true. It's going to have a lot to do with what can be proven as far as what the HC knew about the situation and if someone steps forward to backup the fact that he's condoned tactics such as this in the past. If he can make a case for ignorance I think he'll be OK. It's not like Incognito has a history of such behavior (that I've seen anyway) and trusting Incognito's judgement at this point in his career would be negligence.

Also depends on whether or not management was approached on this issue before it exploded. Only time will tell I suppose.

[KCUnited]

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by nychief

So many message board tough guys... Man, it's like a leather bar in here.

I don't know about that. What is more realistic to me is the fact that people will stand in complete judgement of a situation without knowing all the facts and feel justified is saying or making up anything in order to see that judgement through.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Bart Hubbuch ‏@HubbuchNYP 1m
Dolphins OL Tyson Clabo: Martin "needs to stand up and be a man. I don't know why he's doing this."

Bart Hubbuch ‏@HubbuchNYP 1m
Tyson Clabo just obliterated Martin with his comments. I don't think there's any way Martin can return to the Dolphins.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Sorry, I don't trust a word anybody within the organization has to say right now. Everybody on the Chiefs also stood behind Matt Cassel for 3 years too.

How interested would you be in this squabble if a racial slur wasn't used?

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Bart Hubbuch ‏@HubbuchNYP 17m
Hartline says Incognito feels betrayed by Martin for leaking the voicemail.


Bart Hubbuch ‏@HubbuchNYP 16m
Hartline is outraged because he says Martin was passing the voicemail around earlier in the year and laughing about it.

[TheUte]

Originally Posted by TEX

No, he won't play in the NFL ever again because he's a real meany who bullied a guy... Deal is he CAN PLAY so someone WILL give him another chance. Martin's the one who will never play again, mainly because he can't, but he wanted out anyway so...

Somewhere Conrad Dobler is laughing at all of this as well as all the other "Old School Enforcers" who are still alive.

Yeah, hey can play but how long did he last at any one team he has been on.

He is a guard, he is not AP or JC.

Do you really think Miami is enjoying this BS.

The dude has repeatedly taken cheap shots against his own team mates in practice.

Just the kinda of person every winning organization wants.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Otter

Very true. It's going to have a lot to do with what can be proven as far as what the HC knew about the situation and if someone steps forward to backup the fact that he's condoned tactics such as this in the past. If he can make a case for ignorance I think he'll be OK. It's not like Incognito has a history of such behavior (that I've seen anyway) and trusting Incognito's judgement at this point in his career would be negligence.

Also depends on whether or not management was approached on this issue before it exploded. Only time will tell I suppose.

He does have a history
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...shman/3439819/

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ram...o-and-the-rams

[eDave]

It's all Nancy Grace up in here. What a ****ed up situation.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Sorry, I don't trust a word anybody within the organization has to say right now. Everybody on the Chiefs also stood behind Matt Cassel for 3 years too.

OK, skepticism is fine, but you can't completely dismiss their words and have any degree of certainty.

I've noticed that you have a long track record of coming down hard on bullies and that's fine, but don't let your anti-bully sentiments cause you to jump to black and white conclusions. There's a lot of potential for this to turn out to be a circus of unsympathetic characters of varying degress on both sides.