Hazing In the NFL

Link: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9904868/jonathan-martin-miami-dolphins-leaves-team

If you pay attention to sports or at least follow the news, you may have noticed the huge uproar that has taken place with the Miami Dolphins. In the past few weeks the coaching staff and management of the Dolphins have taken a hit from media and fans all over the world questioning the things that are allowed to take place in their locker room. Offensive lineman John Martin, a second year player from Stanford who suddenly dismissed himself from the team last week. It was found that he left because of emotional stress being cause on him between he and his teammates. It was later found that one of the ringleaders for the cause of his absence was his fellow offensive lineman Richie Incognito, people closely investigating the situation found that Incognito constantly harassed Martin which many believe lead to his decision to leave the team. However this wasn’t Incognito’s first time being accused of these things, it was found that Incognito was dismissed from a previous team because of these same kind of actions.

            Furthermore the media got hold of a vulgar text message Incognito sent to Martin where he calls Martin a “half nigger” and tells him how he would kill his entire family. It was also discovered that one time they Martin, Incognito and a few other players on the team went out to dinner together. When everyone was done eating all the players left Martin at the table to pay the bill, which totaled 40,000 dollars. This is a ridiculous amount of money for a guy who only makes the league minimum seeing that he was an undrafted free agent.

When the media asked players of the Dolphins about the incidents they said that all of it were jokes and its just part of owning your keep within the organization. Also it is very well known that when rookies come into the NFL they go through a hazing process where they are forced to carry another teammates pads, get a silly haircut or subsequently pay for meals. So should the traditional hazing culture of the NFL be kept in place and ignored or should the owners of the NFL enforce change amongst the teams.