The Miami Dolphins locker room is on the verge of imploding as veterans on the team are reportedly forcing and intimidating younger players to subsidize their lavish lifestyles.
Miami offensive lineman Jonathan Martin left the team last week may never return to the team. He was reportedly forced to contribute $15,000 to a trip that he did not attend and handed over the check to Richie Incognito. Martin felt threatened and eventually reached a tipping point after he was threatened and harassed on numerous occasions. On Sunday, Miami indefinitely suspended Incognito, a known problem child throughout his time in the NFL who has had numerous behavioral and drug issues and even punched out a security guard, while the team investigates the situation.
The Miami Herald reported that another “young defensive player” is nearly broke because he has had to pay for the lavish lifestyles of the older players, and that similar incidents are becoming a problem throughout the league:
The source characterized Dolphins veterans using younger players as ATMs to finance their nightlife whims. These older players have been caught up in the fast-paced Miami lifestyle without the burden of having to pay for it, the source continued.
Multiple sources plugged into the organization agree that it’s happening in Miami — but it’s not just a Dolphins issue: It happens league-wide, and organizations and the players’ union know all about it. They simply don’t care, another source said.
Recently, a younger player was handed the tab for a $30,000 team dinner. The rookie minimum this year is around $400.000.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013
When I talked about anger, dysfunction last week, this is what I was referring to. This issue extends far beyond the Martin situation.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013
They’ve gotten sucked into the Miami lifestyle, and the veterans are using the younger players as an ATM, I’m told.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013
One young defensive player, whose privacy I’m protecting, has literally gone broke because he’s been pressured to pay for older players.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013
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