Clabo probably starting Thursday, (edited) Martin has gone AWOL

[el diablo]

I never thought a situation like this would tear up an offensive line unit. Its not like they kidnapped him, stole his clothes, and dropped him off in South Beach. Still, there are no winners here. There will probably be a whole new starting 5 next season.

[EDGECRUSHER]

http://deadspin.com/report-miami-dolphins-bullying-not-limited-to-jonatha-1457688830

Martin has now lodged a formal complaint and the league and Dolphins looking into it.

If Incognito did some other stuff that is criminal like making threats and stealing, then I am all for him being kicked off the team. However, if this is just typical stuff that goes on in every locker room, then Martin's career is over and this is ridiculous.

[CF DolFan]

1) Martin isn't mentally tough enough to play in the NFL.
2 Fins rookie Will Davis tweeted out that the defensive vet players left the defensive rookies with a dinner tab this year, they split it up and it was no big deal.

Martin is a wimp.

Yep. This is another place where political correctness will win over tradition because of someone who has had everything given to them on a silver platter. No freaking wonder he is not very good!!

Wherever he land I hope he doesn't get a blanket party welcoming because what he has just done will probably be felt throughout the league.  Well ... unless the NFL pretends the bullying is Bellichick. Then they could just turn a blind eye and say they didn't "spy" anything. 

[Spider-Dan]

CF, did you see the video with JPP and Prince Amukamara?  Do you think that is an issue of "political correctness"?

[EDGECRUSHER]

He isn't going to land anywhere, he is done in this league. He is like a scab who crossed the picket line. No team wants the negative PR and locker room discontent by signing a BAD O-Line player. It's not like he is Adrian Peterson.

[MikeO]

He isn't going to land anywhere, he is done in this league. He is like a scab who crossed the picket line. No team wants the negative PR and locker room discontent by signing a BAD O-Line player. It's not like he is Adrian Peterson.

Indy would take Martin in a heart-beat. His old offensive coordinator at Stanford is the OC in Indy now. And Luck can control the locker-room and make it a safe environment for him. I could see Miami sending him there for a 6th or 7th rounder in the offseason and being done with it.

[EDGECRUSHER]

IF Martin is just upset about Incognito being a jerk and standard NFL rookie stuff, I don't see how anybody would want to have this guy on their team.

HOWEVER, if Incognito threatened him to give him money or said he would hurt him and all that stuff (and let's be honest, would it be that shocking?) then I think he can still play in this league. The NFL is very old school, they get mad at you if you don't come back from a concussion earlier than you should. I don't see how they would be happy playing with a tattle tale.

[MikeO]

Martin has played his last game in Miami.

Incognito will get a slap on the wrist or be cut by the Fins.

By the time Miami plays TB this whole story should be over with. It's already getting a little boring honestly as more details come out. Pretty much Martin is a wimp and can't stand up for himself. That's the entire story to me. The week before they played the "lunch prank" on Martin they did the same exact prank on Nate Garner....i mean for crying out loud how much of a wimp is Martin!

[EDGECRUSHER]

Surprised he didn't file a complaint against the league's Defensive Ends for all of the abuse he received throughout the year.

[Spider-Dan]

The more concerning issue I see is the $30k dinner tab deal.  If it was split up, fine, but if they made one rookie pay for it, that's messed up.  One of the other reports I read said that Incognito basically strongarmed Martin into giving up $15k for a Vegas trip Martin didn't even go on.  It's one thing to make rookies carry your shoulder pads, or fill their lockers with popcorn... it's another to make them hand over tens of thousands of dollars.

Furthermore:  Martin isn't a rookie.  He did sit down, shut up, and take his rookie hazing.  But if it's still going on in the second year, it's really crossing the line (just as it did with Amukamara).

[MikeO]

Will Davis tweeted today that similar thing happened this year and it was split up among the rookies and no big deal (at least in his eyes)

[el diablo]

Its true, Martin isn't a rookie. Yet, he still finds himself picked on. Even after he allegedly played pranks on others. Yet, he feels compelled enough to go outside the chain of command. It sounds like his teammates didn't and don't respect him. Actions like this, support the other's possible disrespect for him. This is why his days are numbered in Miami. You can force your way back onto the team, but you can't make your team respect you. Linemen don't like other linemen they can't trust or respect. There's a reason Incognito publicly lobbied hard for Long to return to the Dolphins. He's not lobbying for Martin to return. He respected Long. Martin, not so much.

What really sucks, is public pressure. If they cut Incognito, they would be compelled to keep Martin at least through the end of this season. Which means, the line will suck even more. Because, they would lose whatever character they had left on the line. In favor of their weakest link.

[Landshark]

HOWEVER, if Incognito threatened him to give him money or said he would hurt him and all that stuff (and let's be honest, would it be that shocking?) then I think he can still play in this league.

The more concerning issue I see is the $30k dinner tab deal.  If it was split up, fine, but if they made one rookie pay for it, that's messed up.  One of the other reports I read said that Incognito basically strongarmed Martin into giving up $15k for a Vegas trip Martin didn't even go on.  It's one thing to make rookies carry your shoulder pads, or fill their lockers with popcorn... it's another to make them hand over tens of thousands of dollars.

And if these reports about Incognito are true, then it's extortion and charges should be brought against Incognito.  Additionally the team (Mr. Ross) can be the subject of a lawsuit

[Pappy13]

I think too much is being made of this $15K bill for vegas trip thing. Remember most of these guys make 10 times the money you and I do, so $15K for them is like $1500 for you and I. So let me give you a scenario and you tell me if this is extortion.

A bunch of guys I work with decide to go to Vegas. We decide we are all going to put in $1500 to cover expenses like the airplane tickets, the cost of the hotel rooms, rent a vehicle, food, etc. The only thing that won't be covered by the money we put up front will be for gambling. So we all put in $1500, buy the plane tickets, reserve the rooms, get the car etc. Then a couple days before we leave one guy says he can't go for whatever reason. The money has already been used for the tickets, rooms, car etc. The guy doesn't ask for his money back so we go without him. The guy later says that he resented us not giving him his $1500 back since he didn't go on the trip.

Did we extort him out of $1500 or did he back out on the deal at the last minute on us and not give us much choice? Now, I'm not saying this IS the case for Incognito, I don't know what went on, but I could see this happening and there could have been absolutely no malice involved towards the guy. Perhaps the guy even felt pressured into putting up the $1500 even though he wasn't sure he wanted to go but was afraid to tell us until the last minute and then backed out. Is that our fault? He could have simply said he didn't want to go up front and not paid the $1500. Sure we would have chided him mercilessly because that's what guys do, but he would have still had his $1500.

I picked this scenario because a guy I used to work with actually would do this type of thing all the time with a bunch of his buddies. They all would put money up front for expenses and someone would make all the arrangements for everything and get everyone their tickets, hotel rooms, etc. I could see this happening where someone can't go at the last minute, not sure how they would have handled it, but I don't think it would have been completely out of the question that he was simply out the money he put up front unless they could somehow recoup some of it. Especially if lets say they asked him why he couldn't go and he simply said he didn't want to go. If you can't go because your mother in law is in the hospital, I'd do everything I can to get your money back to you, but if you can't go because you changed your mind and just don't want to, well sorry to hear that buddy but I don't feel obligated in the least to give you a refund.

Regardless, this scenario isn't even close to extortion in my humble opinion and basically just someone getting their feelings hurt.

[Spider-Dan]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/03/espn-martin-fears-retribution-from-incognito/

"Schefter detailed a situation in which Martin was intimidated by Incognito to contribute $15,000 toward a trip to Las Vegas by the team’s offensive lineman.  Martin, according to Schefter, didn’t want to go and ultimately didn’t go — but he surrendered the money anyway."

So, to make the analogy accurate, you and some of your coworkers decide to go to Vegas.  One of your coworkers says he doesn't want to go.  He is pressured by his coworkers into contributing $1500 to the fund anyway.  He still does not go.

This would be OK in your book?