The attorney for Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito responded to Johnathan Martin’s allegations of harassment by releasing text message conversations between the two players. Incognito’s attorney, Mark Schamel, unveiled 40 pages of text messages exchanged between his client and former offensive lineman Jonathan Martin. The often vulgar and sometimes violent exchanges date back to December 2012. The messages show that Martin and Incognito both insulted, threatened and joked around with each other. “The coarse and unacceptable comments and text messages that were sent to Jonathan Martin were of the same poor taste as those sent by him,” attorney Mark Schamel said. “All of these communications were provided to Ted Wells and the NFL investigation. What they show is banter between friends, not bullying.” In one of the messages from Martin to Incognito he tells him that he is going to send someone over to Incognito’s house with a “tranquilizer gun and sandpaper condoms” to “homosexually rape him.” To which Incognito replied to Martin, “Hahaha.” There was a text conversation on December 17, 2012 where Martin told Incognito, “Ima egg your house & light a bag of sh*t on fire then ring your doorbell.” Yet another message said he would “kill [Incognito’s] whole family.”
According to released documents, Martin confided to Incognito about his own struggles on the field, like not playing well, being demoted to right tackle and “being ranked by Pro Football Focus as among the worst linemen in the NFL.”
On November 2, Incognito wrote to Martin, “I need you buddy I’m getting killed in the media.” The next day Incognito pleaded with Martin again, “Bro can we talk? The dolphins are talking about releasing me.” Martin did not respond.
Incognito was suspended by the Dolphins on Nov. 3 and remained on the NFL’s suspended list with pay for the rest of the season. He lost $470,588 after agreeing to a compromise with the Dolphins in November when his suspension was extended with pay. He agreed to another extension in December.
New York attorney Ted Wells began an investigation ordered by the NFL in November. The findings by Wells are to be released shortly after the Super Bowl.
[CBS]
