ESPN is reporting embattled Miami Dolphins linemen Richie Incognito feels "shocked and betrayed" by teammate Jonathan Martin, who went public this week with claims of harassment and hazing leading to the veteran guard's indefinite suspension.
The Dolphins announced Incognito was banned from the team for conduct deemed detrimental last Sunday, thus far leading to him being docked well over $200,000 in lost salary. As part of his claim, Martin presented team and league officials with evidence ranging from threatening voicemails left by Incognito to an assortment of outlandish text messages he also sent.
"It's probably a combination of totally blindsided and a bit betrayed," one source told ESPN of Incognito's bruised feelings. "He's shocked. He can't believe this happened and thinks it probably could have been avoided."
According to ESPN, Incognito viewed himself as a "tough-love older brother" to Martin. While admitting Incognito gave the 24-year-old Martin a hard time, the source added he was also protective of the second-year player.
Multiple sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday that Incognito used racial epithets and profane language toward Martin on multiple occasions. In a transcript of a voice mail message from April, Incognito referred to Martin as a "half n----- piece of s---," and added, "F--- you, you're still a rookie. I'll kill you."
Martin abruptly left the team on Oct. 28 following a lunchroom incident of alleged hazing and hasn't returned. He's since hired lawyer David Cornwell, who released a statement Thursday that claimed the player was the subject of harassment and verbal attacks from multiple Dolphins teammates.
"Jonathan endured harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing," Cornwell said in the statement. "For the entire season-and-a-half that he was with the Dolphins, he attempted to befriend the same teammates who subjected him to the abuse with the hope that doing so would end the harassment. This is a textbook reaction of victims of bullying. Despite these efforts, the taunting continued."
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