The document discusses bullying between two NFL players on the Miami Dolphins - Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. It describes how Incognito, who has a history of bullying behaviors, verbally and physically harassed Martin. Martin left the team for mental health assistance. The incident has affected the entire Dolphins organization and drawn national attention to bullying among adults and professionals. An investigation is underway to determine appropriate consequences.

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Running Header: Bullying in Adults
Bullying in Adults
Chris Casciotti
Alvernia University
Dr. Porrazzo
11/22/13

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Bullying in Adults
Bullying is defined as the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or
aggressively to impose domination over others. We also hear cases of bullying in schools with
children because bigger kids pick on smaller kids. We would never think that adults would bully
each other. You would think they are old enough to get away from these childish actions. I have
a prime example of that which is between two NFL players for the Miami Dolphins. Even
though there is hazing in NFL locker rooms this certain incident was not handled well by the
organization and coaching staff and it went completely out of control.
There was a certain issue with one of the offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins.
Jonathan Martin, a 6 foot 5’ 312 pound lineman was having some issues with other teammates.
Most people would think that Martin is not a man per say because he did not even stand up to
him. He just took the abuse and even along with what they wanted. This is the thing Martin did
not want to lose this job plus there might be some psychological issues. He should have sought
help through the team but he did not do it. He went on to get help and left the team in October to
get help.
Martin was a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He was a very fast
and physical presence at left tackle. There is one in particular that was giving Martin the most
pain of all. Richie Incognito is an 8 year pro who has played for the Buffalo Bills and the St.
Louis Rams before the Dolphins. Incognito was the leaders of the offensive lineman and he was
just trying to get Martin “in line”.
The bad thing is Incognito has a very bad reputation for being a “bully”, a “dirty “player,
and a cheap player to boot. Richie’s reputation started when he was playing college football at

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the University of Nebraska. He had on and off the field issues with teammates and with opposing
players. So for some people this issue is not a shock to them because they know the past
incidents that Incognito caused and have been a part of. Richie spitted on a player after a play
when they were playing Troy State in 2002 and then he started a brawl with the defensive
lineman from Penn State that same year. They were getting blown out and then he was ejected
from the game. He was suspended for the first half of the next game after that brawl.
Still Incognito did not learn his lesson and earned a reputation throughout college. He
also started a brawl during a practice. For this action he was sent to a clinic so that he can get
help with his anger issues. Even though he got help Incognito still had issues because the next
year he was involved in a locker room brawl. The new coach at the time immediately suspended
Incognito for this actions and violating team actions. After that he transferred to the University of
Oregon it only took him two weeks to be kicked off the team for violating team rules.
With all these issues throughout college Incognito did the same disrespectful things to
other players in the NFL. He was voted as one of the dirtiest players in the game. He was known
for trash talking and him hitting other players after the play is over. From 2006 to 2009,
Incognito drew 38 penalties, including seven unnecessary roughness calls. His most notorious act
was when he head-butted two players from the Titans after a play in the 2009 season.
After going through the actions that Incognito did in his past we need to dig into the
harassment incident that occurred between the two Dolphins teammates. Text messages and
voicemails were found of Incognito making fun of Martin and some of these messages were
racist. It was said that Martin was made fun of being a mixture of black and white. Richie then
commented on some of the comments and said that they were misunderstood because "people

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don't know how Jon and I communicate to one another." I say that is crap you do not tell a close
friend of teammate that. It is uncalled for and it is wrong as a whole. Martin supposedly sent
Incognito messages like this 'I will murder your whole F-ing family,'". Richie then said “Now, do
I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family? Not one bit."
Incognito knows about his reputation and knew that many of his teammates do not have
his back. He has a reputation for being dirty and full of himself. Richie commented about the
Dolphins locker room “You can ask anybody in the Miami Dolphins' locker room who had Jon
Martin's back the absolute most, and they will undoubtedly tell you [it was me]," Incognito said.
Fox Reporter Jay Glazer told Incognito in their interview "Right, wrong or indifferent, because
of all this, you've become the face of bullying in America.” Another comment that Glazer made
to Incognito was "Someone thinks of a bully, they think of Richie Incognito." This is not even
the half of it and it has gone from bad to worse since Martin has left the team for help.
It is sad to see this happened to a young man who is a great player. At the same time it is
sad for Incognito because his reputation is growing as a horrible person. What if he is really not
that person but that is not the point at this time. He now has the reputation that Sean Avery had
when he was in the NHL. Being compared to him is not a good thing for how he was on the ice.
That is just an example for people for others to relate to if they did not hear about the way that
Incognito has acted in this incident and in the past.
Richie is now suspended and gave a non-football injury grievance the Dolphins which is
sent to the NFL and it has been delayed for the time being. The Dolphins have yet to provide
specific examples of the detrimental conduct cited when he was suspended indefinitely Nov. 3.
Incognito is seeking reinstatement to the active roster and recovery of lost wages that could reach

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a maximum of 1 billion dollars under terms of the maximum team penalty. The Dolphins have to
put Incognito on their active roster before December 2nd.
See this is not effecting just Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito it is effecting everyone
in that organization and locker room. It is evening doing some damage to other people who now
put Incognito with the word bully. Defensive Lineman Jared Ordrick and Wide Receiver Mike
Wallace made some comments about this issue between Incognito and Martin. Ordrick said “For
us to be here as professional athletes and make it to this point, we had to fight through some type
of adversity." Then Mike Wallace added to that comment he said "I'm so sick of hearing about
this," and it’s not draining, but it's just the same stuff over and over."
In conclusion, this issue is now on the way to be handled the right away. I wish the best
to Jonathan Martin and to Richie Incognito because it has both affected their lives in a way.
Martin will hopefully find another team to play for and keep doing something that he loves.
Incognito will help get his grievance and get back to playing. I hope that he changes his actions
and prove the many allegations that he had in his past wrong in the next few years. Incognito
said in an interview that he was bullied when he was younger. My question is why do it to
Martin it makes no sense to me. It shows though that people that have been previously bullied
others in the past will one day become a bully and put them through pain.
This whole incident shows that bullying is everywhere and it can be stopped if it is
handled the correct way. It can be at home, school, workplace, athletic events or even amongst
the players in a certain sport bullying can occur and it needs to be stopped. Bullying is
nationwide and now it shows that even adults or professional athletes still can be bullied and it is
a good thing that now this incident is being handled the right way and Martin is getting help.

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References
Duke,A.(2013, November12). Dolphinsownerdelaysmeeting with Jonathan Martin:'Wewantto get to
the bottomof it'. RetrievedfromCNN:http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/11/us/miami-dolphins-
bullying/index.html?iref=allsearch
Gatto, T. (2013, November20). Report:Richie Incognito,anotherplayermocked wifeof Dolphinsstaff
member.RetrievedfromSportingNews:http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2013-11-
20/richie-incognito-jonathan-martin-bullying-dolphins-harassment-ted-wells-nfl-investigation
Mortensen,C.(2013, November19). Sources:Dolphinsseeking delay.RetrievedfromESPN:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9998001/miami-dolphins-request-delay-richie-incognito-
grievance
Nogle,K.(2013, November18). Jonathan Martin investigation movesto Miami.Retrievedfrom
ThePhinInsider:http://www.thephinsider.com/2013/11/18/5119896/jonathan-martin-
investigation-moves-to-miami

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