There is no way Dolphins coaches and executives were unaware of any bullying — if it was taking place — by Richie Incognito toward teammate Jonathan Martin, according to an insider’s account.
Former Miami offensive lineman Lydon Murtha, who played for the Dolphins from 2009-12, wrote in a first-person piece for Sports Illustrated’s MMQB that the coaching staff knows everything that goes on in the locker room.
“Incognito was made a scapegoat for the hell coming down on the Dolphins organization, which in turn said it knew nothing about any so-called hazing,” Murtha wrote. “That’s the most outlandish lie of this whole thing.”
Martin left the team Oct. 28, and Incognito was suspended several days later for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Murtha said coaches know which players are getting picked on and often call for specific players to be “singled out.” He wasn’t just talking about the Dolphins, either. He said friends from around the league report the same.
“You are taught to be an aggressive person, and you typically do not make it to the NFL if you are a passive person,” Murtha said. “There are a few, but it’s very hard. Playing football is a man’s job, and if there’s any weak link, it gets weeded out. It’s the leaders’ job on the team to take care of it.”
Murtha said Martin was very standoffish and didn’t fit in with the offensive linemen. The coaching staff picked up on it.
“That’s why the coaches told the leaders, ‘Bring him out of his shell. Figure him out a little bit,’” he wrote.
The move seemed to backfire, and Incognito has paid the price, Murtha believes.