As the Miami Dolphins are reeling from a week where they became the face of bullying in America and then got their faces dented by the worst team in the league on Monday night comes even more distressing news that Jonathan Martin was repeatedly fined for being soft.
According to the report, Martin was often fined by teammates for being soft on and off the field and was even threatened to be fined an entire game-day check for his perceived softness.
Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter went on the Amani & Eytan Show on NBC Sports Radio on Monday, when he spoke of what was called a "sensitivity fine" for players who were seen as soft. Martin was evidently targeted more than anyone else.
"I spoke to one player who was on the Dolphins the last couple of years, and we were speaking about Jonathan Martin, and he said that the Dolphins have what they call a 'sensitivity fine,' and it's for players that they deem to be soft on or off the field. And he said that they repeatedly targeted Jonathan Martin for that to the point that one time -- whether it was playful or not -- they even talked about fining him a game check because he was so soft."
On Monday night, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he planned to meet with Martin on Wednesday. He said he has been in communication with Martin via text messages.
Ross also said he stands behind Martin, making him the first person in the entire organization to publicly side with Martin since the whole bullying fiasco broke last week.
Dolphins players have defended Richie Incognito.
Ross also said that the team won't be rushing to judgment on the issue,
"What's gone on, it's really something that couldn't have been a worse nightmare," Ross told ESPN's Mike Tirico. "The most important thing is that we care about Jonathan Martin. Immediately after the incident took place in the cafeteria, Joe Philbin called me, told me what had happened and [was] trying to go out and find Jonathan Martin."
Ross also said he has put together a committee to investigate the incident.
"There will not be racial slurs or harassing or bullying in that work place, in that locker room, and outside the locker room."
If Trotter's report is true, this Pandora's box is even larger than we all thought.
You can listen to Trotter's interview here.
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