I’ve never seen a bully stand up to someone who challenges them. Of course, it’s a different story if the bullies are more than one. If that is what’s going on with the Miami Dolphins, then they are going to have to trade all the talent and start over.
You are right, that's they key. If it's a single bully against a single victim, a show of defiance by the victim usually wins the day. But a show of defiance against multiple bullies becomes a war of attrition. And the single victim usually loses.
I think if Martin had stood up to this meathead it would have turned out worse for him. For some reason Incognito was on the Dolphin’s team leadership squad. A second-year guy against a Pro Bowl veteran with an official leadership position, Martin would have come off as the bad guy and people wouldn’t believe his story until much later when the evidence came out. Meanwhile Martin would have been suspended for punching out Incognito. Martin played it smart, he had no choice but to leave.