ESPN’s Adam Schefter joined Dennis & Callahan on Monday to discuss the issue involving Dolphins linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, and how it affects the future of a number of members of the Miami organization.
Nearly two weeks ago, a lunchroom incident sparked the abrupt fleeing of Martin, Miami’s second-year left tackle. In the following days, reports indicated that the incident was not isolated and instead served as Martin’s breaking point.
‘That is not typical of what an NFL locker room is like. That is excessive,’ Schefter said. ‘Yes, there’s tough talk, yes, there’s joking and all those things like that, but I think this is a case where basically this is above and beyond what we’ve seen in a locker room, is the fact of the matter.’
At the center of myriad bullying allegations was Incognito. The Dolphins suspended him indefinitely almost immediately after a report that Incognito left a lewd message on Martin’s phone in which he used a derogatory racial term to describe Martin.
‘No, I don’t think [Incognito] plays for the Dolphins again,’ Schefter said, adding: ‘His contract’s up with the Dolphins after this year, so now the question becomes, ‘What comes out of this investigation, what comes up in those findings?’ And is there a team out there that’s willing to give him a chance to play for them next year.’
Reports that key members of the Dolphins organization enabled Incognito and encouraged physical retribution by Martin toward Incognito may have jeopardized the job security of coaches and staff members, chiefly general manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Joe Philbin.
‘People in that organization are very nervous and very fearful about what’s going down, and I think that people know that there are going to be people, ultimately, here who pay for this with their jobs, which there will be,’ Schefter said.
Many Miami players have voiced support for Incognito despite the unbecoming allegations, and none have taken a hard stance against the jettisoned lineman.
‘I don’t think they’re going to do that,’ Schefter said. ‘I can tell you I know one player for sure who feels the same way [as Martin]. I know an administrator that feels that way. I think these people are concerned, and they want assurances of confidentiality that their names are not going to be used.’
In other NFL news during the Patriots’ bye week, Peyton Manning and the Broncos defeated the Chargers on Sunday, 28-20, but Manning re-injured his right ankle late in the fourth quarter.
‘First of all, he suffered two ankle sprains against the Jaguars a few weeks back, then he played the next week against Indianapolis and suffered a high ankle sprain, and he got hit in the ankle again yesterday,’ Schefter said. ‘They’re playing the Chiefs on Sunday night next week, my guess is he doesn’t miss any time, my guess is that he plays.’
To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page. For more Patriots news, visit the team page at weei.com/patriots.
