Threatening texts part of locker-room 'brotherhood' in NFL, says Incognito
Suspended Miami Dolphins guard says that he never took Jonathan Martin's message seriously because it's part of locker-room 'brotherhood'
Suspended Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito says teammate Jonathan Martin sent him a threatening text message as an apparent joke a week before their relationship became the subject of a harassment case that has prompted an investigation by the NFL.
In an interview with Fox Sports, Incognito said he never took the threat seriously. Incognito said he regretted the racist and profane language he used with Martin, but said it stemmed from locker-room "brotherhood", not bullying.
"A week before this went down, Jonathan Martin texted me on my phone - 'I will murder your whole ... family'," Incognito said, quoting Martin as using a profanity. "Now did I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family?
Not one bit. ... I knew it was coming from a brother. I knew it was coming from a friend. I knew it was coming from a teammate. That just puts into context how we communicate with one another."
I knew it was coming from a teammate. That just puts into context how we communicate with one another
Responding to the interview, Martin's lawyer tweeted the message Incognito quoted. The message was accompanied by two photos of a laughing woman holding a dog, suggesting it was intended as a joke.