NFL

Incognito, Martin rooting for Dolphins from afar: reports

They were at the center of a controversy that caused both players to leave the team, but offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin are still rooting for their Miami Dolphins to continue their improbable playoff push.

“Even though I’m away from the team, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still pulling for my guys,” Incognito told NFL Media on Tuesday.

Incognito was suspended on Nov. 3 for “conduct detrimental to the team” for allegedly bullying Martin, who left the Dolphins the week prior.

On Monday, Incognito and the Dolphins agreed to extend his paid suspension indefinitely until independent investigator Ted Wells finishes looking into the case. Incognito’s time in Miami likely is finished, as he is in the final year of his contract.

The bullying scandal contributed to a turbulent season in Miami. The Dolphins started 3-0, then lost six of their next eight games to fall to 5-6. Joe Philbin’s team has bounced back with wins over the Jets, Steelers and Patriots to move to 8-6.

The Dolphins are currently tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the sixth and final spot in the AFC playoff race, but do not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

On Sunday, safety Michael Thomas — claimed off waivers last week — came up with the Dolphins’ biggest play of the season, intercepting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the end zone on fourth down with two seconds remaining to seal a 24-20 victory.

After the game, Thomas told reporters that Martin still supports the Dolphins and Martin texted him congratulations after the game.

“He’s one of my best friends at Stanford,” Thomas said. “So he texted me right after the game. He [said], ‘He sees me and congrats.’ That’s it. That means a lot. I looked up to Jon when he got drafted in the second round and all his hard work he put in at Stanford.”

Martin was one of the first Dolphins players to contact Thomas after he signed with the team last week, but Thomas said he has not discussed Martin’s issues with him.

“I wasn’t here when everything went down,” Thomas explained. “So when I talk to Jon, it’s strictly from a friend-to-friend basis.”