Sports comings and goings

Bullying or overreacting? Veteran Miami Dolphins players spoke out Wednesday in defense of guard Richie Incognito, who was suspended by the Dolphins for conduct detrimental to the team. Second-year offensive tackle Jonathan Martin walked out on the team last week after claiming that Incognito was bullying and harassing him. Representatives for Martin showed the team voicemails Incognito left Martin containing profanity, racial slurs, and threats. Some players claimed the voicemails were an ill-conceived joke. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill said that Incognito saw Martin as a “little brother” and always had his back. Offensive tackle Tyson Clabo added, “I think if you have a problem with somebody—a legitimate problem with somebody—you should say, ‘I have a problem with this,’ and stand up and be a man.” Martin’s lawyer, David Cornwell, said on Thursday that the harassment went “far beyond” what normally goes on in NFL locker rooms.

Back on the court. The University of Louisville’s Kevin Ware returned to the basketball court Wednesday night, scoring six points during 10 minutes of play in an exhibition game against the University of Pikeville. Ware, who suffered a brutal leg injury during an NCAA Tournament game in April, said he feels healthy again. The crowd cheered every time Ware had the ball and groaned in unison when he tripped to the floor. “I was a little nervous, actually. … But when [coach] called my number, I was just ready to get in. I’ve been waiting for this moment for like 220 days now.”

Not worth the risk. Denver Broncos guard John Moffitt called it quits on Wednesday, retiring at 27 years old and leaving behind more than $1 million in salary. Moffitt said he had lost his love of the game and was tired of risking his health. “I think it’s really madness to risk your body, risk your well-being and risk your happiness for money.” This news came on the same day it was revealed on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that three former NFL stars—Tony Dorsett, Joe DeLamielleure, and Leonard Marshall—have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to concussions and the suicides of several former football players.

Redd retires. Michael Redd, an NBA All Star and U.S. gold medalist, announced his retirement this week. Redd set a Milwaukee Bucks scoring record with 57 points in a game in 2005 and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing. The 34-year-old shooting guard has been outspoken about his faith throughout his career, led Bible studies with his teammates, and donated portions of his salary to his father’s congregation for a new church building.