Dolphins Richie Incognito files non-football injury grievance
By Peter Smith
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Miami Dolphins suspended guard Richie Incognito has filed a non-football injury grievance with the NFL. As if the Dolphins had not handled this poorly enough, they apparently forgot to read the fine print, namely the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. From Mortensen, according to article 43 of the CBA, the maximum a club is allowed to suspend a player for is 4 weeks plus one game check. As a result, Incognito has filed a grievance in hopes of getting this issue dealt with one way or another and wants to end this period of flux.
This only works to put this story back in the forefront but mostly just makes the Dolphins organization, which has already been criticized significantly over this situation, in further position to be chided by the media. This story still has all kinds of information that has yet to be revealed including interviews from the NFL and the Dolphins still yet to occur with Jonathan Martin. Nevertheless, nothing has stopped anyone from jumping to conclusions and switching sides multiple times on the issue.
The Dolphins are also coming off of a loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football and have to prepare to play the San Diego Chargers. Whether it actually was or was not a factor in the loss, this will only continue to support the story line that this entire issue is a distraction to the team, based on the results on the field.