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A Culture of Bullying?

The recent turmoil surrounding the Miami Dolphins has triggered discussions about bullying among teammates, criticism of what some believe is a culture rampant in the NFL, even questions about what it means to be a man. The NFL�s investigation into Jonathan Martin�s abrupt departure from the Dolphins, alleged bullying of Martin by Richie Incognito, and Incognito�s suspension will no doubt be thorough. Until the findings are released, we won�t know much more about the interaction between Incognito and Martin or about the culture in the Dolphins� organization.

For myself, the allegations of bullying caused me to look back on my own years as a member of the Baltimore Colts. Ted Marchibroda�s mantra was a simple one � �What have you done today to help Colt Football win?� � but it conveyed the message that each player mattered. It didn�t matter whether you were a starter or a backup; whether you came from a football powerhouse or a school with a struggling football program; whether your background was privileged or underprivileged; whether your playing style was cerebral, freelance or scrappy; whether you were an introvert or an extrovert; whether you were black or white; whether you were Catholic or Protestant, agnostic or atheist; whether you grew up in Pascagoula, Mississippi; Enid, Oklahoma; Stinson Beach, California; or Scituate, Massachusetts � you were an integral part of the team and had an important role to play.

That�s not to say there weren�t disagreements. Any time you have a group of folks from diverse backgrounds, with different personalities, there are bound to be conflicts. But those conflicts � whether blown plays and missed assignments on the field or the occasional transgression off the field � were dealt with through humor, with �Bonehead of the Week� Awards. You knew you let your teammates down, you knew you let yourself down, but you weren�t torn down, harassed or humiliated. We worked together, we lived together, we played together and we won together.

I�ve been around the NFL for more than 40 years � as a player, a player rep, an officer of the NFLPA�s former player organization, a member of NFL Alumni, a member of the media covering the Baltimore Ravens, and as president of Fourth & Goal, the first organization dedicated to raising money and advocating for retired players. I�ve seen the game grow beyond what I ever could have imagined.

In my day, the Colts held training camp at a local college, practiced in a temporary practice facility � for several years, a Catholic seminary � before moving into Memorial Stadium once the Baltimore Orioles� season ended. Lunch was brought in by a locker room volunteer or a secretary, typically from a local deli or KFC. Our locker room was equipped with one amenity � foosball. Yet the coaches were in touch with the players. (My defensive coordinator Maxie Baughan even hosted a chili supper for the defense every season.) They knew when a player had an issue or was struggling and they addressed it in a humane manner. One example � when a defensive teammate of mine was struggling, Coach Marchibroda dispatched me and another teammate to visit with the troubled player to see what we could do to help him.

Today�s NFL teams are largely self-contained. Training camp is often held at the team�s year-round practice facility. An in-house cafeteria provides meals, often under the supervision of a nutritionist. Given that physical set-up, coaches and players interact even more closely every day than we did. So it�s difficult for me to comprehend how a modern-era coach, trainer, or club official could be unaware of bullying or harassment of a player or players.

If what we�ve heard about the culture in the Dolphins� locker room is true, there�s work to be done � even if that culture is confined to one team and one organization. The NFL has been committed to player safety on the field. Here�s an opportunity for the league to extend that commitment to the locker room, to ensure a safe environment there. My teammate Joe Ehrmann, dubbed �The Greatest Coach in America� by Parade Magazine, is already involved with numerous teams and there are other former players and coaches, like Tony Dungy, who are doing what they can to mentor young players. Still, I believe there�s room for � and a need for � many more of us to be involved. I encourage the NFL to do just that � bring more of us into the fold. As I�ve said for years, retired players are an asset to the league.

Bruce Laird
President, Fourth & Goal
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983