In the latest turn of the bullying story that has dominated the football conversation this week, reports indicate that Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told offensive guard Jonathan Martin that he should "punch" guard Richie Incognito for bullying him, and that he should "get physical" in response to what Incognito had done to him.
According to Pro Football Talk, which cited multiple sources from the league, Martin's agent, Rick Smith, called Ireland prior to his client leaving the team on Oct. 28 and made him aware of how the second-year player was being treated by Incognito. In response, reports Pro Football Talk, Ireland told Smith that Martin should physically confront Incognito, and even punch him.
Martin, instead, left the team last week after accusing his teammates of harassment and misconduct, and an investigation revealed that Incognito was the ring leader. Once the discovery was made about what Incognito did, he was suspended indefinitely from the Dolphins on Sunday for conduct detrimental to the team.
ESPN reported that Martin checked into a hospital briefly this week in South Florida to deal with emotional distress. Multiple sources have reported that Incognito used racial epithets and profane language towards Martin, including in a profanity-laced and racially driven voicemail Incognito sent him back in April in which Incognito referred to Martin as a "half n----- piece of s---."
Martin, 6-foot-5, 312 pounds, is biracial while Incognito, 6-foot-3, 319 pounds is white.
ESPN reports that the league and the NFL Players Association is investigating the sour relationship between Incognito and Martin with one of the main focuses being on whether or not Martin contacted coach Joe Philbin and made him aware of what was going on between the two teammates. ESPN also reported that the NFLPA has called for a meeting between the agents of Incognito and Martin to discuss how the issue is damaging to both parties.
According to reports, Martin remains in California preparing a document for his cooperation with the league's investigation into the alleged multiple incidents that he says led to his exit from the team for emotional distress.
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