Jonathan Martin gave his side of the Dolphins’ hazing scandal to an NFL-sanctioned investigator for seven hours in Manhattan on Friday, then emerged to say he wants to resume his career.
Martin, who set off a firestorm when he walked away from the Dolphins late last month claiming locker-room bullying by Richie Incognito and other teammates, met for much of the day with investigator Ted Wells at Wells’ Midtown law office while accompanied by his attorney, David Cornwell.
Martin still hasn’t spoken publicly in detail since he started a national debate on hazing and bullying in the workplace with his departure from the team, and he made only brief, general comments after the meeting with Wells.
“Today’s meeting is consistent with my commitment to cooperate with the NFL’s investigation into my experience as a player on the Miami Dolphins,” Martin said, reading from a prepared statement. “Although I went into great detail with Mr. Ted Wells and his team, I do not intend to discuss this matter publicly at this time.
“I do, however, look forward to speaking directly with [Dolphins owner] Stephen Ross, [team CEO] Tom Garfinkel and the Dolphins organization at the appropriate time. This is the right way to handle the matter. Beyond that, I look forward to working through the process and resuming my career in the National Football League.”
The NFL Players Association asked to sit in on the meeting, according to a league source, but was rebuffed by Cornwell — a longtime antagonist of the union, and especially of NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith.
If Martin indeed hopes to resume his playing career, it probably won’t be with the Dolphins after dozens of Incognito’s teammates reacted last week with vocal support of Incognito and a mix of puzzlement and even amusement at Martin’s accusations.
Incognito was suspended indefinitely without pay by the Dolphins last week after Martin’s camp provided a voicemail message from Incognito to Martin from last spring in which Incognito used a racial slur and made vulgar threats against the second-year offensive tackle from Stanford.
Incognito, who filed a grievance against the Dolphins on Thursday seeking to have his suspension lifted, told FOX Sports in an interview last weekend he was shocked by the reaction of Martin — whom he considered a friend — and that his actions had been misinterpreted.
The Dolphins are conducting their own investigation, led by Garfinkel, and hope to interview Martin next week.
Ross told reporters earlier this week in Tampa, just hours before the Dolphins suffered a 22-19 loss to the previously winless Buccaneers, that he was “appalled” by Martin’s allegations and has vowed to clean up the mess with the help of an advisory committee that includes former Jet Curtis Martin.