Reggie Stephens on the Incognito - Martin mess

Quick, can anyone name the head coach of the Miami Dolphins? How about the starting quarterback? Try Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill respectively.

That's part of the issue vis-a-vis the Jonathan Martin - Richie Incognito ugliness according to Reggie Stephens. As someone who played cornerback at Santa Cruz High, Cabrillo College and Rutgers University, followed by four seasons with the New York Giants, including playing in the 2000 Super Bowl, he has the pigskin bonafides to truly understand what goes on in locker rooms of professional sports teams.

Now it's not anything personal between Stephens and the coach and quarterback of the Dolphins. It's all about leadership, or lack thereof because a head coach is the centerpiece of team command and control and the all important quarterback position encompasses authority and influence. These two titles are the most critical positions in the overall culture of a football team at any level.

"Someone like Tom Brady or Andrew Luck or Michael Strahan would have defused and shut it [the bizarre behavior] down quickly," Stephens said. "The same for Bill Bellichick."

Certainly before it became a cancer on a franchise and a public relations disaster the National Football League cannot explain away.

"Why did the Dolphins organization trust Incognito in a leadership role?" Stephens asked, an indicting query considering the offensive lineman's sordid history beginning back in college.

Now some may some its an apples and oranges comparison but can anyone imagine this type of situation emanating between say Google employees or those of Hewlett Packard
Incognito's behavior certainly underlines that culture is a critical component whether it be any sort of athletic team setting or a corporate one.

Stephens continued, "There are some who say Martin is a grown man who should be able to take care of himself. But this is not something out on the streets, it's in a football context and Martin's family was verbally attacked."

According to Stephens, "we went 7-9 in my rookie year and the offense and defense were split but come game day we all came together. We kept it football-related.

He also recalled being friends with teammates of widely disparate backgrounds.

"I made sure I knew every guy on my team."

As for hazing, Stephens explained, "forcing rookies to pay for meals and carry pads and helmets, that's normal stuff. Some riding is going to happen but there are usually a couple of vets who will look out for rookies and make sure things don't go too far."

Not when the a fox is in charge of the so-called chicken coop and while those in positions of leadership demur.