Skip to main content

NFL Week 10 recap: What’s missing from Dolphins bullying saga

WASHINGTON – Well, Miami, you’ve got yourself a full-blown controversy.

For more than a week now, the talk both inside and outside of NFL circles is the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin saga. For close to 10 days, everyone with a mic and an opinion has weighed in on bullying, locker-room culture, and where the line should be drawn when it comes to rookie hazing.

My take? I need more information.

Here’s what we know: Incognito said some pretty disturbing things to Martin via voicemail. Martin feels threatened enough by his treatment in the Dolphins locker room to want to be elsewhere. We also know that locker-room atmosphere either cultivated, or was complicit in, Incognito’s behavior.

What we don’t know is the full context involved.

Incognito tried to lend some of that context in his interview with Fox’s Jay Glazer on Sunday, and I thought he was rather articulate in his defense — far from the meathead he’s been portrayed to be. Not every part of his account adds up, but until we hear from Martin, it’s pretty difficult to really piece together just what happened down in South Florida.

One thing I think is lost in all of this is that we’re viewing these remarks in a vacuum. For example, if you were to read texts or a bland transcription of the banter between me and my siblings, I’m not so sure we wouldn’t get a similar reaction. But such interactions are the result of years of closeness (and an unusual thick skin), whereas Incognito should have known the first rule of communication: Know your audience.

That’s not meant as an excuse for Incognito. Regardless of whether Martin could take it or not, Incognito clearly crossed a line. Yes, he regrets not getting a better read on Martin, but any non-black person who uses the N-word so brazenly does so at the risk of being on the receiving end of a fist to the piehole.

That’s why I’m anxious to hear from Martin. I’m typically against shifting the burden of proof onto the victim, but in this case I’d like to actually hear the full scope of things so we know if Martin is indeed the victim, or if this is more of a classic case of being able to dish it out and later finding he can’t take it.

Either way, Martin has pulled back the curtain on a culture that frowns upon outside scrutiny. I’ve never played a professional sport, but I know enough to know that an NFL locker room is about men banding together for one common cause. The better ones promote brotherhood and unity. If you choose to be on the periphery, or — worse yet — reveal to the public how the NFL sausage is made … you’re going to have problems.

There’s just so many layers to this story that it’s hard to even get a grasp on what the root of it is. Is this about mental health, bullying, a poor locker-room environment or all of the above?

No matter how you slice it, both guys are likely done in Miami (and probably, some management types along with them). Regardless of how this plays out, it’s going to be a lasting stain on the Dolphins’ season — and the beginning of the end for a pair of somewhat-promising careers.

In the end, nobody wins.

But 14 teams won in Week 10. Let’s recap them, shall we?

Redskins 27
Vikings 34

Yes, the Redskins are 3-6 again. Just like they were last year, when they ran off seven wins in a row to win the NFC East. Even though they’re healthier than they were in 2012, history won’t repeat itself … they’re 1-5 in the conference and 0- 2 in the division. This season is officially lost.

Bengals 17
Ravens 20 (OT)

Baltimore blew a 17-0 first-half lead, gave up a “Hail Mary” on the last play of regulation, but still found a way to win. That’s both very promising and very troubling for a team that’s within a game and a half of first place.

Seahawks 33
Falcons 10

This wasn’t just Seattle’s revenge for last year’s playoff loss. This was just plain kicking a man while he’s down.

Lions 21
Bears 19

Considering Aaron Rodgers will likely miss a good chunk of the season and Jay Cutler is having trouble staying on the field, the NFC North just became Detroit’s to lose.

Eagles 27
Packers 13

Green Bay is running out of quarterbacks at a rate so alarming, it’s almost not ridiculous to start wondering if they get desperate enough to place a call to Brett Favre. Almost.

Jaguars 29
Titans 27

Enjoy this win, Jacksonville. It might be your last.

Rams 38
Colts 8

For a St. Louis team that’s supposed to be in the midst of seven years of bad luck, going into Indy and blowing out the Colts sure isn’t a bad start. Unless, of course, Tavon Austin’s Randy Moss-like performance signals a Moss-like ending …

Raiders 20
Giants 24

Have you looked at New York’s schedule the next three weeks? Green Bay (with a third- or fourth-string QB), Dallas (sporting the league’s worst defense) and at Washington (I think we’ve all seen how their season’s going). It’s kind of shaping up for them to start the season 0-6 and run off six straight wins. Inconceivable.

Bills 10
Steelers 23

I know all parties involved are denying it, but I’m not so sure it wouldn’t be a good thing for Ben Roethlisberger to move on. If Pittsburgh is 6-10 or worse at season’s end, don’t be surprised if this becomes more of a storyline.

Panthers 10
Niners 9

OK, folks. It’s time to take Carolina seriously. It’s one thing to feast on the Rams, Vikings and Bucs. It’s another thing to go into San Fran and shut down the Niners. I hope New Orleans is paying attention … they face this vaunted Panthers D twice in December, and it’s starting to look like those two games will decide the NFC South.

Texans 24
Cardinals 27

In case you missed it, Arizona is 5-4. This is a first-place team if they play in the NFC East.

And one of the many shames in Houston this season is that Case Keenum looks like he can play, but he’s getting no help.

Broncos 28
Chargers 20

Denver’s dirty little secret: They can’t protect Peyton Manning. Even if he’s healthy enough to face the undefeated Chiefs on Sunday, chances are he doesn’t finish the game against that tough KC defense.

ryangetty.jpg

Rob Ryan waves to the crowd after the Saints beat the Cowboys Sunday. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Cowboys 17
Saints 49

Let’s just call this “Rob Ryan’s Revenge.” His Saints unit gave up only 192 yards, while the Dallas defense gave up 392 yards and four TDs to Drew Brees AND 242 yards and three TDs on the ground to a New Orleans team that typically doesn’t even try to run.

For the rest of this season, we’ll call them “The Allas Cowboys” … as in, no D.

Dolphins 19
Buccaneers 22

I don’t know what ESPN did to the NFL to deserve this run of Monday night stinkers … but they really need to start making amends.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story