NFL is Investigating Amid Allegations of Racism and Threats
It’s been a tough week for Miami Dolphins’ players and HC Joe Philbin following the departure of Jonathan Martin and allegations of player bullying. On Monday transcripts of a phone call and text messages, reportedly left by Richie Incognito for Martin, were published by ESPN and other media.
“Hey, wassup, you half n—– piece of s—. I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. [I want to] s— in your f—ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your f—ing mouth. [I'm going to] slap your real mother across the face [laughter]. F— you, you’re still a rookie. I’ll kill you.”
Incognito was also caught on video using similar language earlier this year, and that video is currently on TMZ Sports.
Incognito is currently suspended. Philbin, during the team’s press conference, shared an update and deferred answering certain questions until after the league completes its investigation. Philbin confirmed that Martin left team facility prior to practice after an incident occurred in our team dining room.
“Soon thereafter,” Philbin said, “I contacted Jonathan personally, requested a meeting with him, at which he readily accepted. I met with him later that evening. We had a good discussion. Throughout the course of the week, I was in contact on multiple occasions with him and members of his family. I spoke to him the day after the game, and I spoke to members of his family over the course of the weekend. In all my discussions with Jonathan and members of his family, at no time were there any accusations or allegations of misconduct by any members of this team or organization. Later on Sunday, we were contacted by one of his representatives where they in fact had some concerns over player conduct that had occurred. We immediately took those concerns very, very seriously.”
Dolphin’s owner Steve Ross contacted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and asked the league to assist the team and conduct a review of the workplace.
“I want you to know as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins I am in charge of the workplace atmosphere. Any type of conduct, behavior that detracts from that behavior is not acceptable and is not tolerated,” Philbin said. “I will tell you if the review shows that this is not a safe atmosphere, I will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that it is. I have that obligation to the players that I coach on a daily basis, and I will do that. Any questions on that?”
Here’s a few of the questions and Philbin’s answers:
Q: Has talked to Richie Incognito and if he is satisfied with his apology
“I’ve been in contact with Richie. Any conversation that I have with any football player on this team are personal and confidential in nature.”
Q:On if he had an inkling that anything like this was going on in the locker room before last Monday
“That falls under what the NFL review is here for.”
Q: On if he personally had any idea incidents were going on
“Again, I want to make clear this. My focus right now is on the men in the locker room, preparing our football team to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I will give my full and complete and total corporation with the NFL. When that takes place, the timeline on that I don’t have the specifics of. I will tell you I will be in full and complete co-operation with them. I will answer everything honestly to the best of my knowledge. But what I would like to make sure what everybody understands is that there are not going to be comments during the course of this investigation until we get all of the information and we come together on that information.”
Q: On if he never saw the incidents with Richie Incognito on television
“I never saw it. What was it on TV, on Hard Knocks? I never saw the show, not once. I was working at the time.”
Q: On if incidents staying inside the locker room are part of the NFL
“Again I think each locker room has its own culture, it’s own identity. I can’t speak to other locker rooms and how they do thing.”
Q: On if he has seen rookies getting picked on in a locker room
“I personally think laughter in a work environment is a good think. Not at the expense of an individual, but I think laughter can be a healthy, productive thing. But not in a demeaning way at the expense of an individual.”
Q: On what saw Sunday night that made him say Richie Incognito needed to be suspended)
“Again, the information that I received I took under consideration and I felt this was the appropriate action. I’m not going to get into the specifics of what it was, but I had enough information I felt to make a good decision. That’s exactly what I did. ”
Q: On if Richie Incognito being on the team’s leadership council was a trust that was misplaced
“The leadership council is selected by the players. I have a lot of confidence in our players. I have a lot of confidence in the locker room, the character of the men we have in the locker room. He was selected by his teammates.”
Q: On if there is racism on his team
“Again, that’s going to fall under the review of the NFL.”
Q:On if he spoke with Richie Incognito after his initial conversation with Jonathan Martin
“Again, I’m not going to get into discussions I have had. I don’t do that with any situation.”
Q:On if he thought it was a serious matter based off his initial conversation with Jonathan Martin “He never mentioned to me any accusation of any inappropriate behavior. (It) was never mentioned to me at any point, not in the meeting I had with him, not in the phone conversation I had with him.”
Q: On if Jonathan Martin’s representation presented evidence against one player or multiple players “A player.”
Here’s reaction from Miami players today and their thoughts on Incognito and Martin.
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