Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression amidst allegations that he was threatened, harassed and menaced by teammates, chiefly Richie Incognito, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.
Martin, 24, is not expected to report back to the team anytime soon, as he works with specialists in Los Angeles and awaits clearance to return.
We’re now learning exactly what he’s being treated for.
“It’s depression and PTSD… which is directly related to the bullying he endured by Richie and other teammates,” a source close to the situation told Radar.
“Jonathan wants to play football again, but he absolutely can’t play for the Miami Dolphins. That said, football isn’t the focus right now. It’s receiving treatment and moving forward.”
The insider said Martin “hates all of the publicity this has gotten,” but added that when the time is right, “Jonathan will speak out about what really happened” inside the Dolphins locker room.
As we previously reported, the Dolphins have suspended Incognito while an investigation takes place — a club suspension for conduct detrimental to the team has a maximum of four weeks, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Incognito could appeal as well.
Last weekend, 30-year-old Incognito sat down with Jay Glazer of FOX in an effort to explain vicious voicemails and text messages he’d left for Martin.
“This is not an issue about bullying. This is an issue about my and John’s relationship. I had Jonathan Martin’s back the absolute most,” he said, in the interview.
He also claimed that Martin once texted HIM that he was going to kill “my entire family.”
It was just the way they communicated, Incognito said.
Meanwhile, the NFL formally asked Dolphins owner, Steve Ross, and the team’s CEO, Tom Garfinkel, to postpone their meeting with Martin.
“Ted Wells and the National Football League have asked that we delay our meeting with Jonathan Martin until they have the opportunity to meet with him,” Garfinkel said in a statement earlier this week.
“Out of deference to the process, we will cooperate with their request. We look forward to meeting with Jonathan as soon as possible.”
Martin is expected to meet with the Ted Wells, the special investigator appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the next few days, a source said.
“Jonathan’s lawyer, David Cornwell has been in constant contact with Ted. The NFL has been very supportive of Jonathan and respects that he is dealing with a very serious mental health conditions,” the source added.
Martin’s lawyer, David Cornwell, didn’t immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Steron:
I find it interesting that we are all so quick to dismiss his claim of PTSD as bogus. None of us had any idea what happened in that locker room. Not a single one of us was there. All we have is what has been reported in the media and what Incognito has said. Martin has remained silent.
I understand football players have this macho persona and we expect them to be these ultra-tough manly men that nothing can bother. Especially when you're a 300 pound massive human being.
I have heard and read a lot of people say "I would have just knocked Richie's teeth down his throat." Maybe some of us would have. My guess is it would be an extremely low percentage of us that would follow through on the threat. Obviously Martin wasn't wired that way.
The assertions that Martin is doing this as a "cash grab" and that setting up for a law suit are ridiculous. He has said that he wants to play football again but doesn't feel like he can return to the Miami Dolphins for obvious reasons. Would he admit to PTSD if he ever wanted to play again? I would think this would make him, right or wrong, damaged goods in the eyes of many General Managers.
At the end of the day, maybe - just maybe, what happened in that locker room lead to what Martin is dealing with now.
Martin has remained silent, but his lawyers sure haven't. Don't act like he is taking the high road because he is letting his lawyers talk for him or he is reading statements.
What else would you expect Martin to say if he was making a case for harassment in the workplace? His case is strengthened by wanting to return to his profession. It is also strengthened by not being able to return to the place that caused his this trauma. [Reply]
Originally Posted by nychief:
look im not fighting with you. i just think this is all very very complicated and to black and white it - not that you have.
I wasn't under the impression that you were fighting. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
Well, I couldn't disagree more when it comes to healthcare professionals.
If you could give me a specific instance, I'd be more than willing to listen. But I have no less than a dozen close friends (and parents of friends) that are doctors and therapists that would scoff at your assertion.
Are you saying that you don't think Martin's lawyers could find a health professional that would not treat Jonathan for an illness that he MAY not have? Is it your belief that there are no medical professionals that treat illnesses that simply aren't there, at the request of the patient? Do you think everyone in Colorado that has a medical marijuana card has an illness that justifiably requires the use of marijuana? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rausch:
That he was harassed in the workplace?...
He already said that. I was making the point that if he were planning on suing the Dolphins, saying he wants to return is the logical thing to say. I'm not saying he was or wasn't harassed. I'm just saying that he wants to return isn't proof that he is telling the truth. [Reply]
Originally Posted by bigbucks24:
Martin has remained silent, but his lawyers sure haven't. Don't act like he is taking the high road because he is letting his lawyers talk for him or he is reading statements.
What else would you expect Martin to say if he was making a case for harassment in the workplace? His case is strengthened by wanting to return to his profession. It is also strengthened by not being able to return to the place that caused his this trauma.
Martin's lawyers have spoken yet we still know very little about what went down in that locker room. Perhaps I didn't phrase that clearly. Martin has remained virtually silent about the actual incident(s) that caused his mental breakdown.
I choose to believe that we don't know the entire story and that Martin is not perpetrating some "money grab" scheme. [Reply]
If he's suffered PTSD I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want to ever go back...
Look up the Stanford Prison Experiment some time. There were kids who had real psychological damage done to them who decided to leave then didn't because they felt like they'd be letting their fellow "prisoners" down. He can have PTSD, a desire to get away, and a desire to return to the game, even many of his teammates. [Reply]
