Top 10 toxic teammates of the NFL
By Dani Bostick
5. Richie Incognito
In 2012, guard Richie Incognito received the Good Guy Award, recognized by the Pro Football Writers Association for helping the media do its job. He certainly gave the media a lot to write about in 2013 when the Miami Dolphins found themselves at the center of a scandal that exposed the team’s harsh locker room culture.
Incognito targeted rookie Jonathan Martin, attacking him with racial slurs and a slew of vile comments. The allegations also went beyond name-calling and trash-talking. In 2013, ESPN reported that Martin was pressured into financing expensive trips, including one to Las Vegas that he didn’t even participate in. In November of the 2013 season, Incognito was suspended.
Incognito was not a rogue agent in his treatment of Martin. The entire culture of the Miami Dolphin’s locker room was scrutinized. It was reported that Incognito’s harassment of Martin was in response to a request from team officials to toughen up the rookie. Later, when the allegations of harassment came to light, CBS News reported that general manager Jeff Ireland’s response was to suggest that Martin punch Incognito to get even.
The problem with the Dolphins was not isolated. When Incognito played with the Rams, Incognito had a drug problem, per his own admission via ESPN: ““I mean, we’d have practice the next morning, and I’m out until all hours of the night, running the town. Drinking. Doing drugs. I was doing everything that a professional athlete should not be doing.”
The beleaguered guard had a calm and productive 2015 season with the Buffalo Bills. He was even named a Pro Bowl alternate.
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