A Roof Above Us

DAVIE, Fla. -- In a culture that fosters conflict, Jonathan Martin sought to avoid it. Upset by treatment he considered abusive, the Miami Dolphins tackle let the situation fester for months before leaving the team last week. Martins agent then complained to the Dolphins, who suspended guard Richie Incognito. The NFL is investigating whether Incognito harassed or bullied Martin, and whether their teammates and the organization mishandled the matter. Some say Martin, a Stanford graduate who went about his business quietly, handled the situation well. But pro football is a macho world, and some players believe Martin should have responded more firmly. "Is Incognito wrong? Absolutely. Hes 100 per cent wrong," New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. "No individual should have to go through that, especially in their workplace. "But at the same time, Jonathan Martin is a 6-4, 320-pound man. I mean, at some point and time you need to stand your ground as an individual. Am I saying go attack, go fight him? No. I think we all understand we can stand our ground without anything being physical." Dolphins players have robustly defended Incognito, long considered among the NFLs dirtiest players. Hes now a notorious national villain, but teammates praise his leadership and loyalty. Theyve been less passionate in their support of Martin, saying he and Incognito behaved like best friends. "They did a lot of stuff together," tackle Tyson Clabo said. "So if he had a problem with the way he was treating him, he had a funny way of showing it." Martin is with his family in California to undergo counselling for emotional issues. A senior partner in a New York law firm was appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate possible misconduct and prepare a report. DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, said Thursday that he continues to be in touch with those involved. "The NFLPA has taken steps to ensure that every one of our affected members is represented," Smith said in a statement. "It is our duty as a union to learn the full facts, protect the interests of players involved and hold management accountable to the highest standards of fairness and transparency." The alleged bullying saga engulfing the Dolphins has shed a light on how damaging perceptions can be in the violent world of the NFL. A Pittsburgh native, Martin is the son of Harvard graduates and his great grandfather also graduated from the school in 1924. At Stanford he protected Andrew Lucks blind side, and also majored in the classics. Taken in the second round of the 2012 draft, Martin has what it takes physically to be an NFL player -- size, skill, athleticism, intelligence. He won praise from the Dolphins for his diligent study of game and practice video. But while has been a starter since the first game of his rookie season, Martin developed a reputation in the NFL for lacking toughness. That impression might have been reinforced by the way he handled his issues with Incognito, current and former teammates acknowledge. "A lot of people might look at Jonathan Martin and think that hes soft because he stepped away from the game, and say, Why dont you just fight him?" said Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, who played with Martin at Stanford. "Well, if you look at it with common sense and being logical, what options did Jonathan Martin have? "He could fight Richie Incognito. He could go and tell on the players, which we know in the football locker room doesnt go over too well. Or he could remove himself from the situation and let the proper channels take care of itself. And I think he made the intelligent, smart choice without putting himself or Richie Incognitos physical abilities in danger." Houston Texans Antonio Smith, who has accused Incognito of dirty play since they went against each other in college, said Martin should have responded more forcefully. Smith drew a three-game suspension this year for taking Incognitos helmet and hitting him during an exhibition game. "I dont think that in my opinion a grown man should get bullied," Smith said. "And I think that if youre realistically getting bullied, theres only one way my mom taught me and my dad taught me how to get rid of bullies. They used to always say, You hit a bully in the mouth. It will stop him from bullying, no matter what you hit him with." Incognitos harassment of Martin included text messages that were racist and threatening, two people familiar with the situation have told The Associated Press. Incognito is white, while Martin is biracial. Two other people familiar with the situation have said Martin talked of quitting football earlier in his pro career before leaving the Dolphins. One person said Martin considered giving up the sport because of the way he was being treated by other offensive linemen on the team. The person added that Martin now wants to continue his football career. The Dolphins (4-4) play for the first time since the scandal broke Monday night at Tampa Bay (0-8). At least 75 reporters and cameramen tracking the case were in the locker room after Thursdays practice, but receiver Brian Hartline said the scrutiny wont prevent the team from playing well. "It almost heightens your awareness," he said. "You know its going to take away from your focus, so it does the exact opposite. You overcompensate to make sure you stay aware of the game." [url=http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/new-balance-574/new-balance-574-hombre-island-pack.html]New Balance 574 Island Pack[/url] . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. [url=http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/air-max-90.html]Nike Air Max 90 Baratas Mujer[/url] . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. [url=http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/nike-free-5-0/nike-free-5-0-mujer.html]http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/nike-free-5-0/nike-free-5-0-mujer.html[/url] .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. [url=http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/nike-free-5-0/nike-free-5-0-mujer.html]Nike Free 5.0 Mujer Precio[/url] . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. [url=http://www.nikezapatilla-outlet.es/new-balance-574.html]New Balance 574 Mujer[/url] . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Even before John Tavares became the new captain of the New York Islanders, he developed a knack for netting game-winning goals. Nothing has changed in that regard since he got the C on his sweater. Tavares put the Islanders in front late in the second period, and New York overcame a quick two-goal spurt by Edmontons Taylor Hall for a 3-2 victory over the Oilers on Thursday night. New York (3-2-2) has played six one-goal games this season and this time maintained their slim advantage throughout a scoreless third period against the skidding Oilers (1-6-1). The 23-year-old Tavares, who became captain last month, has points in six straight games. "We were really focused tonight and we kept their skilled players at bay," said Tavares, who led the Islanders with 28 goals last season. "I like the way we kept it together in the third. It was a good way for us to finish it off." Tavares beat goalie Devan Dubnyk with a snap shot in front with 1:07 left in the second off a pass from Kyle Okposo. It was his fourth goal of the season. Okposo had scored his second during a power play at 4:54 of the middle period to make it 2-2. Josh Bailey put New York ahead 1-0 in the first before Hall struck. Hall gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead when he scored a pair of goals just 8 seconds apart in the first. That broke the club mark of 9 seconds, set by Wayne Gretzky on Feb. 18, 1981. That was little solace for Hall and the struggling Oilers, whose only win was a 5-4 shootout home victory over New Jersey on Oct. 7. "Its an empty feeling because a loss is a loss," said the 21-year-old Hall, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NHL draft, one year after Tavares had the same honour. "Its great to know I have the record but tonight wasnt our best effort. The wheels have really fallen off for us as these losses have piled up." Hall, who has three goals on the season, displayed plenty of frustration. "We had the lead and chance to grab the reins and we didnt do it," he said. "We should have done better. Its tough." Edmonton has had its struggles on Long Island, too. This was the Oilers seventh straight road loss to the Islanders and their ninth in 12 overall meetings withh New York.dddddddddddd They havent beaten the Islanders on the road since Dec. 14, 1999. The Islanders, 2-0-2 at home, surrendered late tying goals to Columbus and Buffalo before losing in shootouts at Nassau Coliseum. Against the Oilers, they played a strong third, outshooting Edmonton 15-8 and giving the Oilers few quality chances against Evgeni Nabokov, who made 27 saves. Okposos power-play goal, which came while Luke Gazdic served a tripping penalty, pulled the Islanders even. After Bailey opened the scoring at 9:59 of the first, Hall tied it with at 15:52 with a wrist shot from the left circle. He then knocked a rebound past Nabokov at 16:00. Except for the lapse during Halls scoring spurt, the Islanders dominated a briskly played first period, outshooting the Oilers 16-7. New York outshot Edmonton 40-29 overall. New Oilers coach Dallas Eakins was showing signs of exasperation, usually reserved for midseason slumps when teams tumble from playoff contention. After only eight games behind the bench, he was shaking his head. "I knew this renovation was going to be messy, but I didnt think it would be this messy," he said of the Oilers, who havent reached the playoffs since 2006. The 38-year-old Nabokov made several sharp saves for the Islanders, particularly on a one-timer by Nail Yakupov midway through the second. He recorded his 338th career win, 18th on the NHL list. "Your goalie has to be your best player sometimes, and Nabby certainly was, especially for the three penalties we had to kill," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "He was our best guy tonight." The Oilers, who have allowed a league-high 35 goals, were coming off a 3-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday after a 4-2 defeat at Washington the previous night. NOTES: The teams will meet March 6 in Edmonton. ... The Oilers are 0-3-1 on a six-game trip that continues in Ottawa on Saturday and concludes in Montreal on Oct. 22. ... The Oilers were missing centre Sam Gagner (broken jaw) and defenceman Corey Potter (back). ... Islanders fans booed Edmontons Ryan Smyth every time he touched the puck. Smyth left the Islanders after playing only 18 games after a heralded trade late in the 2006-07 season. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysworld.us.com/]Cheap NFL Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseyssafe.us.com/]Wholesale Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cheapjerseys2016.us.com/]Wholesale NFL Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysauthentics.us.com/]Jerseys From China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseys2017.us.com/]Wholesale NFL Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cheapjerseysteam.us.com/]Cheap NFL Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cheapjerseysauthenticusa.com/]Cheap Jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.cnjerseystousacheap.com/]Cheap NFL Jerseys China[/url] ' ' '

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