What NFL players are saying about the league’s hazing dilemma

For The Win talked to a number of pros about the ongoing situation between two Miami Dolphins players.

The backlash against Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin’s claims of bullying has started in his own locker room, with many current teammates and at least one former one defending suspended guard Richie Incognito. The saga has rippled into the other 31 facilities around the NFL, causing some to wonder whether the alleged instances of a racial abuse, extortion, and potential interference from the coaching staff in Miami’s locker room is indicative of a greater culture.

“In college, my form of hazing someone was just not talking to them,” New York Giants third-year offensive tackle James Brewer told For The Win. “If you were a freshman or something I just didn’t really talk to you that much. In here with the linemen, the most we have to do is decorate the room for holidays or get candy. I’ve never seen anything that unusual.”

It’s something that Brewer’s defensive teammate, Prince Amukamara, might be expected to feel differently about. Video surfaced of him being tossed into a cold tub by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in August 2012, but the third-year cornerback said that it just comes with being a younger guy on the team.

“You knew what was going to happen if you didn’t do what you were supposed to do,” Amukamara said. “You get the Popeye’s on Saturday, you sing [at rookie events] and you get thrown in the cold tub if your don’t do what you’re supposed to do.”

(Warning: video has explicit language)

Amukamara, who is in the Nigerian royal bloodline and earned the nickname “Black Tim Tebow,”for his devout beliefs, is a unique guy with an easygoing personality. At the time of the cold tub tape, he was heard being told to stand up for himself, as perhaps his teammates were trying to develop a mean streak that doesn’t naturally exist.

“The thing is it’s not like the guys did it and continued to be mean to you and neglected you and didn’t help you,” Amukamara said. “Guys still hung out on off day and still helped you off the field. That’s how you know the intent wasn’t malicious. If it did get there, our leaders like [Justin] Tuck, Eli [Manning] and Trel [Antrel Rolle] would definitely say something.”

Where Amukamara had a safeguard as rookie in his veteran leaders, there may not have been the same kind of protection in place for the Stanford-educated Martin, who his teammates nicknamed “Big Weirdo.”

“We’re talking about some of the biggest, toughest guys in the world and nobody had the strength to fight for somebody who couldn’t fight for himself,” former NFL linebacker Bart Scott said. “That’s what disturbed me the most. [That] out of the other 52 people in there, nobody was man enough to challenge this gentleman and say ‘Hey, that’s wrong and it’s not acceptable.’”

In a press conference Wednesday, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill told reporters that “If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he’d say Richie Incognito. It’s tough for us to sit here and hear all that when we have each others’ backs.”

So while Dolphins players say that there was no visible issue between the two, Giants safetyAntrel Rolle doubled down Wednesday on statements he made a day earlier, insisting that there’s no room for bullying in the league but that Martin should have handled any disputes himself.

“Jonathan Martin is a 6’5 320 pound dude. I think he should be able to stand up for himself and say no I’m not doing it. Richie Incognito is not going to go to the extreme of bullying to hurt or sacrifice his career. What could he have done if [Martin] said no I’m not paying the bill? Then what? If he takes it out of line you take it to a higher power. Either you take care of it yourself or take it to a higher power. He’s the one that’ll be in trouble not you.”

Scott disagrees with that logic.

“Jonathan Martin is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound dude,” New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. “I think he should be able to stand up for himself.”
(Photo: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports)

“People assume because somebody’s big….that doesn’t mean he has a pitbull mentality,” the former Jets and Ravens linebacker said. “You don’t need that to play football, you just need to be good at your job.”

The attention hazing and bullying have received this week surprises Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. Having only played for one organization his entire 11-year career, Polamalu says he’s never seen any young players deal with anything even resembling hazing.

“Coach Tomlin has always said that if you are willing to help us win than you’re part of our family,” Polamalu said. “Whenever anybody young or new comes into here, we always have open arms and are willing to help them get used to their professional lives, whether it’s getting a car or giving them some change before they start getting paid.”

It’s the idea that Incognito’s treatment of Martin permeated beyond the locker room that is the most unsettling to Scott.

“That’s 24-hour bullying  [the alleged voicemail that included threats and a racial slur],” Scott said. “That’s leaving the facility and still thinking about somebody when they’re in their place of peace.”

Get the latest on the Richie Incognito story here and check out the gallery below ..