The Miami Dolphins have now taken center stage in the NFL after the incident involving Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin and after the harassment and bullying accusations, the offensive lineman could be facing legal damages and so could the team depending on how things shake out.
According to ESPN.com legal analyst Lester Munson, Incognito could end up having to pay triple Jonathan Martin's salary based on the state laws for damages in Florida and while that is still some time down the road, it poses more issues for the lineman and for the league. Incognito spoke to reporters that caught up with him on Tuesday and said that he is weathering the storm and that it "will pass" eventually, but this time it might have more consequences than his past bad behavior. Incognito has been able to skate by with fines and being cut, but now he could face legal troubles down the road.
The report says that the damages in the case could end up being triple the salary of Martin and the law, titled Evidencing Prejudice While Committing Offense, could put money damages on the situation since it was racially motivated. Incognito reportedly left a message that was racially threatening to Martin and that is where the crux of the argument could be. Martin makes $600,000 this season and he could end up earning even more down the line and in court he could end up getting more money based on potential salary.
The money damages could be an issue for the Dolphins, but since it involves an individual player and not the team exactly, getting damages in court could be troublesome. Either way, Incognito is facing more issues and depending on how it all shakes out, he could be paying quite a bit for what he said to Martin and how he acted towards him since he was drafted as a rookie.