OT-Full Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito text message history released.

Submitted by a2_electricboogaloo on

Just a heads up, a lot of these texts are really really vulgar, and some have fairly explicit images (although mostly censored), so you've been warned.

Link

 

My thoughts on it:

  • Honestly, they both come off as total meatheads , particularly Incognito (as these texts more or less chronicle their constant efforts to get laid).
  • They seemed to be really good buddies.
  • Nothing that I read really sounded like bullying to me.  There was a lot of joking around, and giving eachother a hard time, but nothing seemed meanspirited, and even the harsher jokes had lighthearted responses.
  • Those last few pages made me really feel bad for Incognito.

Bigfoot

February 3rd, 2014 at 11:42 PM ^

It's really sad-- incognito seems to have a hard time socially, and then his best friend tries to ruin his career/reputation. Just brutal.

Gordon

February 3rd, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^

I can't believe I'd end up feeling sorry for Richie Incognito after reading those texts.

Richie's just looking for a friend to do terrible things with, thought he had a buddy, and his friend reported him.

What a weird, weird story.

MgoBlueprint

February 3rd, 2014 at 11:51 PM ^

I thought that Richie got what he deserved when the story first broke. But after reading all of the texts, I feel for Richie. Regardless of his prior rep, it seems like he actually did take Martin under his wing. 

I think there will be backlash for a number of other people. The first that comes to mind is Ireland. Im not sure what Kevin Hogans status is, but he could be affected as well. 

The drugs and hookers arent a surprise, but it still puts a black eye on the organization. 

MichiganStudent

February 4th, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^

Wow I did not expect that. Incognito is not a model citizen by any stretch but it really looks like Martin threw him under the bus.



Martin looks like a guy that became morally conflicted, broke and used Incognito as the blame for his own actions.

 

FatGuyLittleCoat

February 4th, 2014 at 12:05 AM ^

Martin seemed to love the life, then felt guilty and conflicted and tried distancing himself from Richie. Just strange stuff all around. It reminds me of a conversation that I would have had as a senior in high school or freshman in college:immature as heck.

bo_lives

February 4th, 2014 at 12:36 AM ^

I'm actually not very familiar with how this all played out. Who exactly broke the story? Seems to me like Martin probably would have rather seen the whole incident blow over. Incognito definitely got thrown under the bus, but it's hard for me to feel very sorry for a guy promoting that type of putrid lifestyle.

In the end though, I'd say it's the Dolphin's management who look the worst in all this. They're the ones who brought in an upstanding young Stanford graduate and tried to turn him into a criminal, using Incognito as a Stooge. The whole staff knew exactly what was going on, but seemed to think it would just make Martin somehow "tougher" are promote comraderie.

Gobgoblue

February 4th, 2014 at 12:53 AM ^

How does this reflect that poorly on Dolphins management? The whole staff knew? These are professionals and adults. what they do on their own time is their business. If they had been caught breaking the law it would be one thing, but saying it's on the staff is like saying your boss is responsible for that DUI you and your coworker got.

bo_lives

February 4th, 2014 at 1:55 AM ^

The Dolphins are the ones who knowingly drafted a Stanford-educated son of two Harvard graduates who went to private school his whole life, and then sat and watched as a bunch of goons went and tried to suck the guy into a disgusting lifestyle, all in the name of... what? brotherhood and comraderie? This is really more like your boss sending Mother Theresa on a booze cruise with Ozzy Osbourne and then acting surprised when she tries to swim to shore...

Gobgoblue

February 4th, 2014 at 2:57 AM ^

This is the NFL. The best players get drafted and play on teams with all types. You act as if this Stanford educated, high class brain surgeon was torn from his job and forced to play professional football and befriend Incognito. Did you even read the transcript? Up until the end of October, Martin was all in with both feet.

bo_lives

February 4th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^

Peer pressure is a powerful thing and things are not always as they seem. Considering Martin felt so distraught by late October that he went so far as to check himself into a mental hospital, I'm guessing his reservations went a bit farther back than you're assuming.

You're just denying the obvious, which is that the Dolphins management didn't do their homework on this. If they had, they wouldn't be down two starting offensive linemen now, would they?

Gobgoblue

February 4th, 2014 at 3:34 PM ^

but they have no choice now. The homework the dolphins mgmt needed to do was ask "Does he have character issues?"

The answer is no. Other than that, Martin is an adult and a professional. If you want to treat him like the middle school new kid, that's your prerogative. But is misplaced.

bo_lives

February 4th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^

Clearly there was somewhat of a clash in values between Martin and his teammates. Clashes in values usually stem from a person's upbringing (and please don't play the "well there are exceptions" line... of course there are exceptions, but that's completely irrelevant here) What don't you understand about that?

ijohnb

February 4th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^

there may a difference between trying to get laid and have fun and trying to re-enact The Hangover 4 nights per week.  I get what you are saying, but I also think that it may not be a common as you think for high level athletes to go on multi-day alcohol poisoning binges nearly every week.  My guess is that is not the prototype professional athlete.

Pit2047

February 4th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

In large markets, and especially warm cities there is something called "night life."  Young guys in there 20's usually partake in this so called "night life" and do even more so if they have the funds to fuel thier escapades.  This is not exclusive to athletes, but is more prevelent than a lot of people realize.  The offseason is the time to endulge in this "night life" and if you read the text you would realize that the parties pretty much die down once training camp starts in late July.

ijohnb

February 4th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^

do you not think that this very "nightlife" idea of yours may take place in other places than Miami.  Yes, I am aware that young rebel-rousers go out into the "nightlife" and have their escapades and participate in their shinnanegans and other tomfoolery.  There is nightlife and there is Leaving Las Vegas.  I don't think Jonathan Martin was being "bullied" I think he wanted to get away from drinking until blackout stages several nights a week and picked a very poor way to do so.  Incognito may not have been bullying Martin but it is clear from those texts that he has several pretty serious problems and hopefully he is getting the help he clearly needs. 

bo_lives

February 4th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^

I am 100% serious when I say that the Dolphins' management screwed up and didn't do their homework on this situation. It played out very badly, and it could have been much worse. Clearly, Martin was extremely emotionally unstable by late October - how would you have feel about the situation if he had harmed himself rather than seeking professional help?

creelymonk10

February 4th, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^

Wow, end up feeling bad for Incognito, not just for getting thrown under the bus, but for also seeming to never be able to do anything more than slap and tickle with a girl. Seems just like two buddies back and forth, don't know what made Martin flip.

RobM_24

February 4th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^

I'm not trying to be a meathead or pretend bullying doesn't exist, but guys talk trash to each other for fun. Especially competitive guys, which I assume most athletes are. When outsiders are around me and my friends that I grew up with, they honestly think we don't like each other or something. Probably 75%+ of our conversations are shit-talking. Personally, I love it and it provides good humor. I think the barbershop scene in Gran Torino kind of explains it the best. Maybe Martin truly felt bullied, but Incognito might have just been playing around like he does with all the other guys ... not necessarily targeting Martin to bully him.

gwkrlghl

February 4th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^

I mean I work in a manufacturing plant and its the same here. You know that people accept you if they start giving you crap for everything. Unfortunately it does happen occaisionally that someone takes it wrong and it doesn't end well - not sure that's the case here though. I didn't read everything but it sounds like Martin just got tired of it and tossed Incognito under the bus

rbgoblue

February 4th, 2014 at 1:14 AM ^

I found it interesting that Martin was the one that texted a pic that said "I will murder your whole f***ing family," (obviously not serious given the context), but a week later, Incognito was characterized as a bully and a racist when his voice messages and texts were presented in the mainstream media without any context at all.

PizzaHaus

February 4th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^

I mean, how else was the "mainstream media" supposed to take it? He was accused of bullying, and then it became known that he sent n-bombs and death threats to Martin. There was no context available to present them in.

If he had released these then, things would have been different. I know it's easy to blame the media, but I'm not sure what else they were supposed to do with what they were given at the time. It looked pretty horrible. 

"Well, he said 'I'll kill you n****er, but he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt on this one"?

rbgoblue

February 4th, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^

This exchange basically confirmed everything we had ever thought about Mike Pouncey.
 
 
 

Incognito: Hell yea Did u go to pouncey's after? I'll kill u if u did

Martin: Lol hell no.  No drugs for me rest of season

Incognito: Goooood That shit is ridiculous

DanUMich

February 4th, 2014 at 1:47 AM ^

Not trying to hijack the thread, but this just illustrates what happens when people jump to conclusions. Makes me think twice before saying anything about the Gibbons situation.

turd ferguson

February 4th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^

This. In cases like these (when the public has so little information), the certainty and speed with which people draw conclusions drives me crazy. I understand the desire to have clearly defined villains and victims, but oftentimes the fair, responsible thing to do is reserve judgment.

JohnnyV123

February 4th, 2014 at 4:09 AM ^

I somewhat feel bad for Incognito because you can tell he really cares about Martin. He's constantly checking in with him to see what he's up to and seeing if he wants to hang out.

At the same time, Incognito has this habit especially early on in the texts where he randomly hurls an unprovoked insult at Martin, which Martin usually responds with F U! As long as Martin knows what's up and has not complained that shouldn't be a big deal.

Neither of them come off looking good from those texts though. Strange situation.