All of you saying the voicemail needs to be put into context either don't have real jobs or ignored your harassment training. There is no context in which calling someone racial slurs, threatening to kill them, or saying you're going to cum down their throat is considered okay in the workplace.
I don't think the story is all as Martin's side would suggest, but Incognito's conduct was completely inappropriate, joking or not.
Agreed.
I played sports going up, served in the military, and have worked in intense/physically demanding jobs. There is often the, "Code" which is really only code for, "We behave badly and we expect everyone to shut up and cover for us. If not everyone will make your life a living hell."
I was in a number of situations in the military in particular where individuals did illegal things. The "expectation" was for everyone to follow the "unwritten Code" and overlook, even cover up, these activities. Of course all in the name of unity, "I got your back" BS. What this all really every was, and is, is an afront to the very principles members obligate themselves to uphold. If people had core values they would not expect or want you to lie to your commanding officers--and for the sake of the group would not put their brothers in that situation. You man up and take responsibility.
So this "Code" BS is really. Good leaders are able to foster core values by leading by example, outlining the clear expectations, and then enforcing these expectations fairly. Poor "leaders" are the ones who are unable, or unwilling, to hold themselves to such a standard that have to resort to unwritten "Codes" in violation of the mandates handed to them.
From the very beginning I have heard a ton of BS blaming Martin. Martin should have never been put into this situation.
The Coaches should have never invoked another player to handle the situation off the books. From the early reports this action was taken because optional workouts were not attended. Sorry NFL Team, your billionares got with the NFLPA millionares and hashed out the deal. Teams with good leadership and culture tend to get a strong turn out for these events; poorly lead teams don't. Undermining the legally agreed conditions and process is a blatant violation of the CBA and in itself an act of bullying an employee into compliance with a non-compulsary activity.
I also question the eagerness some are jumping on some of the more recent leaks. We don't have all the details.
Martin spending a lot of time with Incognito. OL sticks together. They go everywhere together. Seattle's local talk shows have had a lot of OL on who attest it has been the same thing on every team: the OL stick together on the road and do everything together. Furthermore if Incognito was tasked with "nurturing" Martin he very well may have been a brooding hen.
Sharing the audio and laughing about it. Reports are already indicating the MIA players don't have issues with a white guy using racial slurs at a black guy. The Coaches appear to have instructed another player to "toughen up" another player through unauthorized channels/methods. That says a lot of the culture. Martin doesn't appear to have had many friends and bringing the recording in could very well been seeing how his own teammates viewed it. They all laughed and thought it was great. I believe most of us have been in a position where we laughed off a hurtful or embarassing incident when a large group obviously didn't care how it affected us.
Facts are facts: when that audio was played, if MIA had a good culture with good guys in that locker room, someone who have said, "Hey, dudes, this is way over the line. I 'know' Richie was trying to be funny, but we are brothers, teammates, and this is not only unprofessional but not what we as a team want to be known for." Instead that locker room is full of 1st graders in men's bodies.
Everyone who is saying Martin should have punched Incognito: you are an idiot. Ever hear of
Aaron Hernandez? You have no clue what is real, and not, from Incognito. He obvious has temper issues and a pop to the mouth may have escallated it to very, very bad places. People don't look back on Bill Romanoski breaking some guys eye as a "good" thing.
And there is reality: MIA wasn't happy with his performance as a player. Starting a physical altercation could have led to a suspension and getting labelled as a trouble maker.
If the report that the GM Ireland wanted Martin to punch Incognito--that is all the "character" testimony you need for the work environment Martin was in. The GM, Coaches, and Player(s) were all onboard to avert proper processes. Who did Martin have to turn to?
<Crickets>
The bottom line is the audio is unprofessional and in any work environment grounds for termination--regardless if it is a joke. A high profile "company" like the NFL with employees charged with all sorts of violent crimes absolutely should have a Zero Tolerance policy. You say, "It is part of sports" and I say, "Threats of violence & rape and bigotry are not part of socienty or any sport." It really is all hush hush for, "Code to allow bad people to act badly."
The audio appears confirmed; if Martin under "hazing" felt pressured to give money for trips for his teammates it speaks very clearly about the culture in that MIA lockerroom. And probably why the other players have no problem with Incognito.
Btw, this does not happen in every NFL lockerroom. Mike Holmgren always had a no-hazing policy and he absolutely punished players for violating it. His reasoning was players were professionals and he wanted young players to contribute and hazing serves no end to that purpose. They have enough to worry about.