The Miami Dolphins lineman suspended while the NFL investigates allegations that he bullied a teammate said he’s “trying to weather the storm,” even as new allegations of misconduct piled up and a report indicated that coaches had asked him to “toughen up” the teammate he’s accused of tormenting.
The Sun Sentinel reports that Dolphins coaches had told Incognito to make offensive tackle Jonathan Martin tougher after the young player missed a voluntary workout. ESPN reports on explicative-laced and racially charged voice messages Incognito left for Martin. TMZ published a video of a shirtless Incognito shouting racial slurs in a profanity-filled tirade at a Fort Lauderdale bar earlier this year. And retired Hall of Famer Warren Sapp said Wednesday that Incognito, who is white, had once hurled a racial slur at him during a game.
Many teammates are rushing to his defense.
In his only public comments on the matter, Incognito told a CNN affiliate Tuesday: “I’m just trying to weather the storm right now. This will pass.”
The Dolphins indefinitely suspended Incognito on Sunday. Martin left the team last week. ESPN reports he checked himself into a hospital.