The Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito situation has yielded plenty of opinions as more facts become exposed over the course of the investigation.
As the South Florida Sun Sentinel points out, even current Dolphins players fall on different sides of the debate with respect to their thoughts on Martin and Incognito. Questions have started to spread from the Dolphins organization, through the NFL and, as expected, trickle down to the collegiate ranks.
Regardless of the landscape, be it NFL or collegiate, hazing and bullying have no place in the game. The practice is not beneficial and can foster as much resentment as the sense of camaraderie it is meant to build.
Hazing and bullying are not to be confused with the lighthearted initiation tactics practiced by teams to bring freshmen into the fold. Carrying pads, putting away equipment are things that foster a sense of responsibility and accountability, critical elements to the team. The rookie show and fight song ordeals are intra-squad affairs where everyone laughs at everyone, including newcomers laughing at each other.
What comes with hazing and bullying—two acts that go hand in hand—is the push from bringing everyone into the fold to ostracizing individuals in the name of improving teamwork. There are physical and mental elements to each and ultimately, both run a very serious risk of breaking individuals that would have otherwise been beneficial, contributing members of the team.
It can come from coaches…
Continue Reading: In Light of Richie Incognito, an Ex-Player’s Take on Hazing and Bullying in CFB
