Dolphins' Jonathan Martin meeting with NFL investigator

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin has arrived at the office of the NFL lawyer investigating the team's bullying scandal...

Adam Howard

Nov 15, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin has arrived at the office of the NFL lawyer investigating the team’s bullying scandal.

The league is trying to gather information about the harassment Martin says he was subjected to by teammate Richie Incognito.

Martin and a companion arrived at lawyer Ted Wells’ Manhattan office building Friday and were met by a crush of reporters. The offensive lineman smiled but did not respond to questions while entering the building.

Incognito has been suspended by the Dolphins. He filed a grievance Thursday against the team over his suspension. Incognito has said his conduct was part of the normal locker-room environment.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also plans to meet with Martin. On Monday, he said two committees would examine the locker-room culture. Players have been virtually unanimous in saying it doesn’t need to be changed.

Martin alleges he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito, and the case has raised questions about the job security of coach Joe Philbin, his assistants and general manager Jeff Ireland.

Philbin won a vote of confidence this week from Ross, but that could change depending on the findings of Ted Wells, the NFL special investigator.

Wells will determine the role of Philbin, his staff and Miami management in the case, and his report will be made public. One issue is whether anyone on the coaching staff ordered Incognito to toughen up Martin, a second-year tackle from Stanford who became a starter as a rookie but played poorly at times.

Ross also plans to meet with Martin. That meeting was originally scheduled for this week, but at the NFL’s request, it was postponed until after Wells met with Martin.

The second-year pro suddenly left the team two weeks ago and has been with family in California undergoing counseling for emotional issues.

Incognito filed a grievance Thursday against the Dolphins seeking to rejoin the team.

The case inspired a national debate about workplace bullying and attracted a daily throng of 100 media members or more at the Dolphins complex.

Incognito has acknowledged leaving a voicemail for Martin in April in which he used a racist term, threatened to kill his teammate and threatened to slap Martin’s mother.

Incognito has said he regrets racist and profane language he used with Martin, but said it stemmed from a culture of locker-room “brotherhood,” not bullying.

Incognito is white and Martin is biracial. Teammates both black and white have said Incognito is not a racist, and they’ve been more supportive of the veteran guard than they have of Martin, who has not spoken publicly about the case.

The Dolphins (4-5) have slumped after a 3-0 start, and on Sunday they play at home for the first time since the scandal broke when they face San Diego.

AP Sports Writer Steven Wine contributed to this report in Miami.