Hines Ward defends Jonathan Martin
By Josh Sanchez
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and current NBC analyst Hines Ward was the latest person to sound off on the Jonathan Martin – Richie Incognito locker room situation that has thrust the Miami Dolphins into the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons.
Ward approached the situation with a sense of understanding and knowledge that some men who have spoken out have not been able to have.
The comments came on NBC’s Football Night in America when Ward commented on his struggles as a bi-racial child as he applauded Martin for being the bigger man for walking away and not resorting to violence to solve his issues.
“Being biracial myself, I understand Jonathan Martin, because I had to deal with some of those same issues growing up,” Ward said, via Pro Football Talk. “As a child, I was bullied and discriminated against because I was of mixed race. I heard some of the guys throughout the league say that Jonathan Martin should be a man and fight back. But for me it takes a bigger man to walk away from the situation. [I]n the locker room we don’t play with the ‘N’ word. When a guy calls another man of the opposite race the ‘N’ word, there are no more games being played.”
It is always nice to see someone bring some perspective to an issue that has caused such an emotional and sometimes irrational reaction.
Ward’s response was well thought out and one that everyone should take in to consideration.
There are certain lines that should never be crossed in society or in an NFL locker room and Incognito crossed those lines and deserves to be held responsible.