Early last week, news emerged of a bullying scandal in the NFL involving Miami Dolphins players.

Offensive linesman Richie Incognito was suspended by the league for harassing team-mate Jonathan Martin and leaving threatening messages on the younger man's phone which included racial epithets.

At the time, the case seemed like a clear-cut tale of bullying.

Although the bullying and racial aspect of the story have captured the imagination Stateside, Sports Illustrated writer George Dohrmann told Off The Ball that team-mates have rallied around Incognito, while there are also suggestions that he was encouraged to "toughen up" Martin.

Indeed, Martin may find it harder to return to the sport than his alleged aggressor according to Dohrmann because the locker room culture would paint him as "weak" and a "traitor".

And it is not completely out of the question that Incognito could return to another NFL team as the league has a habit of welcoming back controversial characters.

"He will have to do penance and soul-searching and hope someone takes a chance on him," said Dohrmann.

But the case has also thrown up the argument about NFL players being encouraged to be explosively violent on the pitch and are then expected to be well-adjusted off the field.