Incognito

[zepman]

What's everbodies thoughts on this this?

I personally think he's being railroaded. IMO, the coaching staff in Miami is to blame for this whole thing and I think they'll all get fired over it.

Incognito will stay in Miami and Martin will find a new team to play with...if he wants to play at all. I question Martin and his "want" to play the game. Ballard and Moffet just "quit" this year...hung it up. Said it was no fun and retired from the game...I think Martin may fall into this catagory when all is said and done.

Just my opinion....

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I think if it weren't for the "half n-bomb" voicemail, this would have blown over already. I guarantee this is stuff that happens in every single lockerroom, from high school on up. So many people these days have grown up in our 'kitty'-fied world and think Incognito should have given him a hug and a gold star for the day, rather than telling him to suck it up, Buttercup.

[Dave S]

[mrklean]

i think the media is doing a great job of covering 1/3 of the story and trying to blow it up while we dont know most of the story yet. When almost the entire team says these guys were best friends and they stand by Richie that should tell you something. Will be interesting to hear the rest of the story

[CANOPY SAM]

The kid looks and sounds like a first class jerk, who's too young to recognize what an incredible gift he's been given, or how to handle a giant pile of money.

It probably does happen all the time, the trash talking, but intimidating new players into paying huge tabs, and even making them hand out money for trips to Vegas, etc.??? That's totally bogus.

I'm glad they're making a martyr out of this thug. Stuff like this likely does happen all the time, but that doesn't make it okay.

I did have to laugh though about the league saying how they are all about sportsmanship, camaraderie, and standing up for the "team" though. Was that what the entire New Orleans Saints team was doing when they had orders to hurt Brett Favre, and other Vikings players in the playoffs a few years back?

Stuff like this wouldn't surprise me in a high school locker room. Or even a college locker room for that matter. But at the NFL level? C'mon guys, grow up.

[DrJuice1980]

Its funny to hear all the retired guys say this stuff isn't the norm but all the active guys say they would rather take Incognito on their squat than Martin. It makes it seem like a PR save by the league coaching these guys on what to say. You're right Ripper, the n-bomb killed all his credibility but that's just in the publics eye. This has got to be something standard for the locker room culture, he is even on a video at a bar with a bunch of black teammates shouting it out and nobody seems to care. The coach was behind it, you don't empower a guy with his history to "toughen" up a guy like Martin. That's like throwing a wounded deer right into a lions den.

With that said I'd take Incognito today.

[nofishfisherman]

There is some sort of hazing that goes on in every locker room. But there is a line that can be crossed at some point. We really don't know the whole story but if you just look at the voicemails that have been released I'd say that is probably over the line. Using racial slurs and telling the guy that you'll kill him goes beyond normal hazing to me.

Its really hard to make sense of the whole situation since the evidence seems to point in one direction and the players view of the situation seems to point in another direction. The truth has to be somewhere in the middle. I'll be interested to hear what Martin's motive was if it turns out that the hazing wasn't as bad as what is being reported and that the 2 were in fact friends like the other players are saying.

[DrJuice1980]

Seriously though, was this guys life ever in jeopardy? NO. Was he really going to get a duce dropped down his throat? NO. Was Incognito REALLY going to slap his mother? NO. Seriously guys, how can you take this seriously? Bullying? yes. A threat to his personal and families safety? No.

[FISHINGURU]

I think it's pretty funny personally. Only reason it's being a big deal is because of the "N" word.

[JBMasterAngler]

I seen on sportscenter this morning, they were interviewing a Miami sportswriter, and he said multiple black players (current and former) had welcomed Incognito as one of their own. If that's the case, I can't imagine he's too much of a racist.

[JP Z]

From all the reports I've read on this pretty much every other guy on the team has his back on this. It could just be blown out of proportion. Seems the coaches were pushing him to toughen up Martin.

[Slabasaurus]

I seen on sportscenter this morning, they were interviewing a Miami sportswriter, and he said multiple black players (current and former) had welcomed Incognito as one of their own. If that's the case, I can't imagine he's too much of a racist.

Lots of material out there pointing to the fact that this guy isn't very classy... to say the least.

Racist? I dunno. I'm sure this story won't be going away any time soon though...

[drcarplove]

When he was at UNL, he was in trouble for fighting, both off the field and in practice. Apparently he is still not exactly a class act. Who wouldn't prefer a class act like Will Shields was? It will come down to, what if any penalties the league throw at him and how bad a team needs help.

[Musky Buck]

Size matters it's funny if Incognito was 5'7" and a buck 50 he wouldn't be saying squat lol. Celebrity boxing would love to watch Incog vs Butterbean.

[DrJuice1980]

He'll most likely go back to Miami. If not, I say we throw him a life line. We could use his intensity. And I don't think he is as bad as everybody makes him out to be. Im not saying his a saint or angel but he's not some racist bigot monster who is going around beating people up left and right. He's a guy who is embedded in the culture of the NFL. A very physical, manly game. He came across a guy, who still sleeps with his teddy bear and wookie blanky, that the organization told him to toughen up. He was probably also worried that this Martin guy would make him look bad on the field (played right next to him).

[Musky Buck]

I agree the issue isn't race, he just needs his butt handed to him a couple times and he'd mellow out, did you see that tirade he went on in that bar challenging everyone to a fight etc. he's just one of those kinds of guys that can't handle liquor without somehow trying to prove he's the biggest and baddest dude in the land. Put a few million in your checking account and you don't have to be accountable if you don't want to be. We all know his type. I just can't believe it isn't a Viking mess lol.

[LMITOUT]

This whole ordeal is like a real life "A Few Good Men".

[DrJuice1980]

He should've just pounded a few drinks, got behind the wheel, smoked a J or 2 and let whatever beef he had blow right over. At least he wouldn't have gotten suspended for that. Put lives at risk and your ok and get to play, call somebody a few names and youre the worst person ever. Ironic, don't you think?

[Stick in Mud]

There is some sort of hazing that goes on in every locker room.

Is that actually true? I know it's fairly common, but I played college ball for four years and never saw nor heard of anything remotely resembling "hazing," much less this stuff. As frosh we got taken to a strip club...tough "hazing," that.

"Hazing" behavior isn't irrational...it makes good sense, at least theoretically. The people who do it aren't necessarily racists or bullies or idiots. And, as folks have pointed out, it's common. Has anyone come across any actual research on this issue? Theoretically, it "bonds" groups--whether they're military outfits or football teams--but I've not yet come across any controlled studies on its effects.

Do teams that "haze" (sorry for all the quotation marks, but I realize that what constitutes "hazing" isn't necessarily agreed upon by everyone) win more games? Have a stronger commitment to the group? Clearly there's a potential cost to such behavior, but do the potential benefits outweigh these costs?

[FISHINGURU]

He should've just smoked a J or 2 and let whatever beef he had blow right over.

I agree

[DrJuice1980]

The Vikes should throw out a 6th or 7th rounder for this guy. It'd be a steal. You know this had to have knocked him back to earth and the Fins seem to want nothing to do with him. The guy is a pro bowler and we need a Guard bad.

[zepman]

I'd do it in a heart-beat!

[DrJuice1980]

Sign him now. We NEED talent and its hard to find consistent quality Guard play in the NFL. Come on Speilman, get him here. He's had enough time to cool off and sit in time-out.

[BuckSutherland]

Sign him now. We NEED talent and its hard to find consistent quality Guard play in the NFL. Come on Speilman, get him here. He's had enough time to cool off and sit in time-out.

Just think we could draft that gay guy now too. Then we would have Priefer, Incognito, and the gay guy. Ziggy could start his own reality TV show to help pay for the stadium with the proceeds.

They could hire Kluewe as a counselor. Oh, the possibilities are endless with this combo.

[DrJuice1980]

Maybe it's not so great of an idea to sign him anymore. Dude needs serious help. Good ol boys don't beat their Ferrari with a bat and check themselves into rehab, or was it involuntary? Either way I'm going to retract my previous statement.

Weird how this gets WAY more attention than the Sharper ordeal. Multiple stories, very similar in nature. Guys a puke.