DAVIE, Fla. -– Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin addressed allegations of player misconduct and said that the NFL is conducting a review of the workplace inside the organization's locker room.
"As the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, I'm in charge of the workplace atmosphere," Philbin said Monday after practice. "Since April 10, 2012, when the players first came here and I was the head coach, every decision I have made and every decision we have done in this facility has been done with one thing in mind and that is to help our players and our organization reach their full potential.
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"Any type of conduct or behavior that detracts from that objective is not acceptable and is not tolerated."
Philbin confirmed that tackle Jonathan Martin abruptly left the team facility last Monday following an incident in the cafeteria. Martin has not since returned to the team.
After Martin's representatives contacted Philbin Sunday with "concerns over player conduct that had occurred," Dolphins owner Stephen Ross asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the league's involvement to conduct a review of the workplace.
Philbin said the Dolphins would cooperate fully, calling the review "comprehensive" and "objective."
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As a result, Miami announced Sunday night it suspended guard Richie Incognito indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.
"If the review shows that this is not a safe atmosphere, I will take whatever measure necessary to ensure that it is," Philbin said. "I have that obligation to the players that I coach on a daily basis and I will do that."
Of all the players asked in the locker room, all said they would want Martin to return if he feels well enough to do so.
"Anything that's going on with J-Mart right now, I hope gets sorted out and I hope he's OK," defensive tackle Jared Odrick said. "I hope he continues his career and plays great and plays awesome."
"It's about winning," offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie added. "If you're going to help us win, then, OK, we need you to help us win and let's get that done. I can't hold no grudge over, 'You told,' or whatever it is."
Players expressed support for Incognito and Martin, saying that they were integral parts of the offense. According to the players made available, there was never the appearance of tension between Incognito and Martin in regular interactions.
"I thought they were friends," McKinnie said.
Part of the alleged harassment in the Miami locker room stemmed from older players seeking younger ones to handle the bill for expensive meals and parties. Rookie cornerback Wil Davis sent a tweet Friday that read: "I just seen a dinner bill for $30,000… WOW #RookieNight."
Davis clarified in another tweet that the bill had been split. He said Monday that an expensive lifestyle can be costly for young players with smaller salaries.
"Oh yeah, it's an NFL thing," Davis said. "If you spend all that money, of course you're going to get into trouble."
Davis added, however, that it's not an obligation for younger player to pay for expensive meals.
How difficult is it to say no?
"Easily," Davis said. "They're not coming after you. If you don't want to do it, you don't have to. That's the No. 1 thing going into it, they all said: 'It's rookie night, but if you guys don't want to do it, you don't have to.'"
The question in the Dolphins case is whether these incidents, common in other NFL locker rooms, crossed the line.
"I don't want to call it 'hazing,' " defensive end Cameron Wake said. "I mean, that's – rite of passage – in this league. It's a group of elite men. It's a fraternity, it's a brotherhood. It's a lot of things. And there's a membership. You have to pay your dues to get certain privileges."
The NFL's collective bargaining agreement stipulates that the maximum time Incognito can be suspended for conduct detrimental to the team is four games.
The timetable for the NFL to conduct its review has not been determined. When the league does send its representatives to South Florida, Dolphins players feel there won't be anything to hide.
"I think the situation in the locker room is very healthy," tight end Michael Egnew said. "We have some excellent players in here and a lot of good guys in this locker room."
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