Jonathan Martin vs Richie Incognito: This needs to stop already

Racial slurs. I thought that maybe, just maybe, after the Riley Cooper incident early in the NFL season, football players would learn not to use racial slurs. I guess I was wrong.

Miami Dolphins offense lineman Jonathan Martin recently left the team citing to “bullying” and the fact that he did not feel comfortable at his job. It has been reported that his teammate Richie Incognito had been bullying him and sending him threatening text messages and voicemails that also included racial slurs. The incidents are being investigated by the NFL and new details have been coming out almost daily over the past few days. Recently it has come out that coaches told Incognito to “toughen” up Martin. Apparently, Incognito took it to a whole new level.

Incognito, who has had numerous off the field issues throughout his career, is known for being a “tough” guy. A recording of Incognito’s voicemail to Martin was released and showed that Incognito did indeed use racial slurs toward Martin and threatened him a few different times. When questioned about this other Miami Dolphin players have defended Incognito, saying that this is “normal” behavior that happens in the NFL. While some players may be okay with this happening, others aren’t and it needs to be dealt with.

Cameron Wake and Mike Wallace, presumably the two best players on each side of the ball for the Dolphins, defended Incognito and didn’t seem to have a problem with his comments towards Martin.

Both Wake and Wallace should be ashamed of themselves. My question is, how it is possible that two black teammates are alright with a white teammate calling another black teammate a racial slur? How does that happen? Especially in a league that was so hurt and shocked just a few months ago with Riley Cooper doing the same exact thing. Are they afraid of Incognito? Is it because Martin walked out on the team, something that is looked down on? Either way, it is wrong — very wrong. Not only did Incognito use a racial slur, he threatened someone’s’ life. Why was Cooper so scrutinized by other players while Incognito is being defended?

People can blame the coaches for what happened but I don’t care who is to blame for this happening, the fact of the matter is that it happened and needs to be dealt with. The Dolphins have already suspended Incognito indefinitely and I believe he should stay that way and never be allowed to play another down in the NFL. We are always trying to eliminate bullying in schools so why should it be allowed in professional sports? If this really is a “normal” action that happens in locker rooms all across the country, then the NFL really needs to be a leader here. It needs to take a look at itself in the mirror and change its ways.