Memo To NFL: Miami's Incognito Must Go!

Richie Incognito

Over the years the National Football League has had it's share of cheats, druggies, thugs, women/wife beaters, and alleged murders. Now they can add bully to that list.
Bully? Aren't bullies found in the hallowed halls of middle and high schools? Apparently bullies are no longer an evil found only in secondary educational institutions. One has escaped the high school and college ranks and found his way to the NFL.
Richie Incognito, veteran offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins has been suspended indefinitely from the team for allegedly bullying a teammate. His victim is Jonathan Martin, also an offensive lineman. 

Mike Garafolo, Senior NFL reporter for Fox Sports, writes,"Multiple sources told FOX Sports the Miami Dolphins and the NFL Players Association have been told guard Richie Incognito sent Martin text messages and left him voice mails that are both threatening and racially charged in nature."

If this is true, and the NFL is now investigating, Incognito needs to go. The NFL should ban him from the league. A suspension and or fine is not good enough. Too harsh, you say? Look, first of all the guy is a jerk. He's been kicked off teams in both college and the NFL. Apparently this isn't the first time he's been accused of bullying. Click the link, Incognito's Bullying Goes back 13 Years.

There is a report that coaches told Incognito to "toughen up" Martin for missing two practices last spring that were 'voluntary' on the part of the players. These practices are called Organized Team Activities (OTA's). Despite being voluntary, coaches pressure players to attend. Most do, some don't. Martin did attend, but missed two. It would be interesting to know what coaches did to those players who didn't show up at all for the OTA's. At any rate, the key phrase here is 'toughen up' and what coaches meant by that. If  certain coaches told Incognito to toughen up Martin by bullying then heads need to roll there as well.  

 Secondary schools in this country takes bullying extremely seriously. There have been bullying cases that have led to suicide on the part of the bully's victims. The kids, and they are kids, who bully have respect and discipline problems. They should be dealt with harshly by school systems and the law if warranted. If I had

Jonathan Martin

my way (unfortunately I don't) bullying would be classified as a hate crime. But incognito is no kid. He's 30 years old! He obviously hasn't grown up. Counseling, equal to a four year degree, should be in his future.

As for Jonathan Martin, he has left the Miami Dolphins, apparently to deal with emotional issues as a result of Incognito's supposed actions. One wonders if a promising career is over for Martin. Teammates and the Dolphins say Martin is a good player with loads of talent. The same is said of Incognito. It's just that one is a good  guy...the other isn't. If these allegations are true, the NFL needs to show the one who isn't the door, permanently.  The NFL has numerous other issues with players to deal with, all having a negative effect on the league's reputation. There is no place in the NFL, or any other sport, for bullies. 

  

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