Time for the NFL to Grow Up

As a Miami Dolphins fan my entire life, I am really saddened to see the recent situation about offensive lineman Jonathan Martin reported in the media. Beyond the embarrassment to the team, which is really not my main concern, I am disgusted with how this situation has come to pass in today’s world. Anyone who has paid close attention to football, played the game growing up or watched an episode of Hard Knocks on HBO knows that players get ragged on and especially so if they are the younger guy or rookie. Many in the NFL see this as a rite of passage, evidenced by the preseason rookie shows that humiliate the first year players by having them sing songs in drag or force them to portray themselves in an unflattering scenario (this is being kind). The only surprise I have about this scenario is that it has taken this long for a player to get so fed up that they decided to leave their team over it. I don’t want to get into the allegations as to what occurred and who did what. What is important to me is that this type of hazing and behavior should have no place in any modern workplace and NFL locker rooms are no exception. Under no circumstance would bullying or harassment, to the degree that certain players in the NFL are subjected to, be accepted or condoned in any professional workplace environment. Not only is it accepted and condoned, in many cases coaches sit and laugh while these mistreatments take place (see almost any season of Hard Knocks).

The NFL, specifically Roger Goodell and the owners, need to come down hard on this type of behavior. If they don’t, what kind of message is the league sending to the youthful fans of the sport? Everywhere you look on a major new outlet’s website, you see sad stories about the effects that bullying has on those targeted. The stories are sad and sickening, not only for the outcomes but also because in many cases an adult did nothing to stop it. Well NFL brass, you are out of excuses now. For the last decade we have watched the deplorable escapades of what goes on in locker rooms of the NFL, and now you have a player who was finally fed up enough that they walked out on their team. I applaud Jonathan Martin for taking a stand that he would no longer tolerate the abuse he was receiving, and I hope to applaud the decision makers of the NFL for eradicating this nonsense from their multibillion dollar a year product. If anything, they should take lessons from history on what happens to them when they ignore problems with players. The recent billion dollar settlement with former players over the league’s handling on of concussions is a testament to getting out in front of this bullying issue. Can any reasonable person not see a class-action lawsuit in the future over hostile working conditions? Yes, this is still a game played by men. But the day they sign their contracts they become professionals who are entitled to the same safe and enjoyable working environment that every non-professional athlete deserves. Time for everyone in the NFL to grow up!!