Miami Dolphins Veterans Reportedly Took ‘Rookie Tax’ To The Extreme [Details]

Rucuss staffNovember 4, 2013

The situation with Jonathan Martin and the Miami Dolphins does not look like it will be ending any time too soon.

Martin, a 2012 second-round pick, left the Dolphins last week following a prank pulled on him in the cafeteria. The prank was the final straw for Martin, who reportedly has been harassed and bullied since being drafted.

Although lineman Richie Incognito has denied bullying anyone on the team, he has been fingered as the ring leader. ESPN and CBS Sports have both fingered him as the bully.

The bullying is not about physical abuse but more about money. Some players around the NFL call it “virgin tax” or rookie tax. A rookie tax is when veteran players force rookies or young players to pay for expensive dinners.

The rookie tax can be annoying to some players, but it is normally harmless. But Miami Herald writer Adam Beasley said veteran Miami players took that concept to an extreme. Beasley goes into detail on Twitter.

Fourth-year player Jared Odrick posted a picture of a team dinner and wrote that “everything tastes better when a rookie pays for it.”

Rookies paying for the dinner of veterans is not uncommon. It happens in every locker room. But it appears the Dolphins may have abused the chain of command and NFL tradition.

Photos via Twitter and PalmBeachPost.com

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