Mike Ditka calls Jonathan Martin a ‘baby’

Former NFL head coach Mike Ditka spoke about the Richie Incognito bullying situation during ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and gave a unique take. Rather than blasting Incognito for allegedly bullying Jonathan Martin like most other analysts have done, Ditka said he would not want either player in his locker room.

“I want to say one thing,” he said, according to Pro Football Talk. “If I was the coach, I wouldn’t have either Incognito, the bully, or the baby, Martin, on my team. That’s me. [Does] that make me right? No. That makes me me. And I would stand up to that, because you don’t do what Martin did and you don’t do want Incognito did. Period.”

As you might expect, Ditka’s opinion was not well received. Many people feel that the “tough guy” culture of the NFL is the reason Incognito was able to get away with harassing Martin for so long, and Ditka labeling Martin a “baby” perpetuates that. Keyshawn Johnson seemed to strongly disagree.

“To hear Coach Philbin say [Martin] could have come to him, no he couldn’t have,” Johnson said.  “Obviously, because he didn’t. There’s a reason he checked himself into a hospital. He didn’t just decide one day, ‘Oh, you know what, I’m gonna wake up and go check myself into a hospital because I’m not feeling good.’ No, he checked himself into a hospital because he was disturbed about everything that’s been happening to him over the last year and a half, Coach.”

If you have heard some of the stuff that was allegedly said to Martin, it’s hard to side with Ditka. We’re talking about full-grown adults in the workplace. Could Martin have done a better job of sticking up for himself? Probably, but not everyone is wired the same. Incognito and others — including the Dolphins organization — should have known when to quit.

Full Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin history:

Jonathan Martin reportedly went AWOL after cafeteria prank
Jonathan Martin reportedly called ‘Big Weirdo,’ bullied by teammates
Richie Incognito said to be one of Jonathan Martin’s main tormenters
Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito text message conversation
Jonathan Martin reportedly left Dolphins because of emotional issues, not bullying
Jonathan Martin ‘genuinely scared’ of what Richie Incognito might do to him
Richie Incognito suspended indefinitely by Dolphins
Richie Incognito reportedly told Jonathan Martin ‘I’ll kill you’ in racially charged voicemail
Report: Richie Incognito will never play for Dolphins again
Video: Richie Incognito dropped N-bomb during fit of rage at a bar
Antrel Rolle: Jonathan Martin is a ‘grown-ass man,’ just as much to blame as Incognito
Dolphins coaches reportedly asked Richie Incognito to toughen up Jonathan Martin
Richie Incognito makes first comments, says ‘this will pass’
Dolphins players reportedly felt Richie Incognito was ‘honorary’ black man
Brian Hartline: Jonathan Martin laughed at voicemail
Tyson Clabo: Jonathan Martin should stand up and be a man
Jeff Ireland reportedly advised Jonathan Martin to punch Richie Incognito
Richie Incognito accused of sexual harassment at 2012 golf event
Dolphins player told Jonathan Martin he was going to f— his sister
Richie Incognito reportedly held O-line meetings at strip clubs