The NFL, the most popular US pro sports league, has been shaken by the allegations of racist hazing that have led to the suspension of one member of the Miami Dolphins and the abrupt decision by another player to leave the team and enter counselling.
The case has focused attention on the brutal sport's time-honoured practice of teasing, hazing and joking around that happens in the typical National Football League locker room, and has raised questions about whether the tradition goes too far, especially when it comes to the youngest players.
In the case of the Miami Dolphins, players say they've never seen the kind of accusations of out-and-out bullying and harassment at the heart of why second-year player Jonathan Martin suddenly left the team a week ago because of emotional distress.
His teammate, veteran Richie Incognito, was suspended indefinitely by the team.
According to two people familiar with the case, Incognito, who is white, sent racist and threatening text messages to Martin, who is biracial.
The issue has garnered quite a bit of attention in a country where even a regular-season NFL game gains higher TV ratings than a World Series baseball game.
The ongoing saga has raised questions about whether Miami coach Joe Philbin and his staff were negligent in allowing issues between Martin and Incognito to fester.
Current and ex-players around the NFL say the situation reflects a lack of leadership because teammates of Martin and Incognito didn't intervene.
The players' union issued a statement on Tuesday saying it expects the NFL and teams to "create a safe and professional workplace for all players."
Martin left the team last week and is with his family in California, where he is undergoing counselling for emotional issues.
NFL officials are trying to determine who knew what when, and whether Incognito, ninth-year pro, harassed or bullied Martin.
A senior partner in a New York law firm with experience in sports cases was appointed on Wednesday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate possible misconduct in the Dolphins' workplace and prepare a report that will be made public.
Players on other teams recounted stories this week of bringing breakfast sandwiches to players at their position or purchasing trays of food before road trips.
But none revealed anything approaching the $15,000 that Martin reportedly coughed up for a Las Vegas trip other players took. Or the types of text messages apparently involved.
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