Posted by Michael David Smith on November 6, 2013, 5:36 PM EST
Ryan Tannehill, Jonathan Babineaux, Mike Pouncey, Richie Incognito AP

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is mystified by the suspension of Richie Incognito and the departure of Jonathan Martin, because as far as Tannehill knew, the two were best friends.

Asked today about reports that Incognito bullied, harassed and threatened Martin to the point where Martin felt he had to leave the team, Tannehill said that to the contrary, he always was under the impression that Martin and Incognito were like brothers.

“I think if you had asked Jon Martin a week before who his best friend on the team was, he would have said Richie Incognito,” Tannehill said. “The first guy to stand up for Jonathan when anything went down on the field, any kind of tussle, Richie was the first guy there. When we would hang on off the field, outside football, who was together? Richie and Jon. I’m not in those guys’ shoes, I can’t explain what’s going on.” ...

Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly

This is odd. Last thing I ever expected was an ANGRY Dolphins locker room. Players are pissed off they are being put through this.
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Chris Perkins @chrisperk

#Dolphins players outstanding in lockerroom today. Tannehill, Hartline, Clabo were the stars. Passion & honesty.

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Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero

I ask randy Starks who is aware of voicemail whether Richie Incognito is a racist: "No, not at all."
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Randy Starks on why they're speaking up after initially being told not to talk: We want to clear Richie's name
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Randy Starks: Incognito took Martin under his wings, was like a big brother to him.
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Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly

"We're trying to clear Richie's name. He's getting a bad rep," Randy Starks said.
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Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly

"We joke with each other. You can't have thin skin around here," Starks said. "Way we joke around is different than things in corp office."
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Adam Beasley @AdamHBeasley

Clabo said Incognito treated Martin no different than any other player on the offensive line.
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Tannehill, John Jerry, everyone keeps talking about how Incognito and Martin were friends.
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Adam Beasley @AdamHBeasley

Everybody we've talked to says how close they were. Hartline was on fire.
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Adam Beasley @AdamHBeasley

Tyson Clabo is irate at Jonathan Martin: "I don't know why he's doing this. ... This is ridiculous."
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

When asked if players could possibly welcome Martin back, Hartline says he has an opinion but won't share it
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Hartline says if coaches asked Incogntio to toughen up Martin why would they pick a bully racist to do the job?
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Hartline said at one time the voice mail was a joke in the locker room and he believes Martin was one laughing about it
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Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Hartline says Incognito and Martin were friends, he was extremely critical of voice mails being leaked to media

I wonder why Richie hasn't made a statement.

The NFL Players Association is making an attempt to open up the lines of communication between the camps of Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin.

NFL Media's Albert Breer reported that the NFLPA contacted the agents of Incognito and Martin on Wednesday morning to request a meeting, according to a source apprised of the plan.

The proposal calls for the meeting to occur in Florida with union chief DeMaurice Smith present.

The more I keep reading all of this the more I call mental issues on Martin. Incognito belongs back on the field with his teammates.

I am also sick of the ESPN & NFL Network analysts that keep crying racist on this matter and keep throwing fuel on the fire. However, there are a share of the analysts that side with Incognito and a TON of his former and current teammates too.

Ever thought about how small of an audience this MNF game would draw if espn weren't pushing this awkward story into something extraordinary?

Just sayin . .

Martin left the Dolphins last week because of emotional issues stemming from alleged harassment and misconduct.

Sapp's comments came on the same day former Tampa Bay defensive end Chidi Ahanotu wrote a Facebook post saying Sapp had bullied him, several other players and team employees during his time with the Bucs.
In part, Ahanotu wrote players and staff "had physical altercations of varying degrees with Sapp. Virtually Nothing was off limits to Sapp's verbal attacks & belittling of his teammates & front office staff."

"A legendary coach once said to us that if a guy is a jerk but he plays football great, then he's not a jerk to him," Ahanotu wrote. "Sapp's prowess on the field and national acclaim has been embraced by the Buc owners [the Glazer family], former head coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden and the local media regardless of full knowledge of Sapp's belligerence [and] insulting behavior. In the end, a pass is given to players when they are superstars. Even passes to be included all the way into the Hall Of Fame. If Richie Incognito was such a superstar, then the nation would never have heard about his bullying altercation."

Reached by ESPN.com, Ahanotu said his intent wasn't to be negative toward Sapp, but in light of the Incognito situation, he felt the public should know the truth.

He doesn't need to. His teammates are doing it for him and it comes on the heels of the media trying to make Richie out to be some racist bastard.

They have egg on their faces right now. Once more facts got out, it became apparent to me Martin has been trying to cover his own butt for storming out. His family and counsel were trying to make him a sympathetic figure except it backfire. Wouldn't be surprised if his parents concocted this in order to ensure the Dolphins don't try to withhold money from his signing bonus.

Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero

Brian Hartline tells me 2 wks ago Jonathan Martin and Dion Jordan got into practice scuffle. Incognito first to come to Martin's defense.

Mike Pouncey also came to Martin's defense. Hartline says both OLinemen angry at him b/c he agreed with Jordan.

Ever thought about how small of an audience this MNF game would draw if espn weren't pushing this awkward story into something extraordinary?

Just sayin . .

Personally, that isn't the way to draw fans to follow the Dolphins.

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"If I'm not mistaken, this is the same guy [Martin] who was laughing about this voicemail at one point and time, first of all," Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline explained. "Second of all, I believe that, if you go through the whole voicemail, there's some things said that you probably shouldn't say in general, friends or not friends. But I know for a fact that I've said things to my friends that I kind of wish I never said, either.

"With that being said, I never thought it was a death threat. I never thought he was actually going to do the things he said. If you can't take validity from one part of the voicemail, how do you take validity from the whole voicemail? You can't pick and choose what parts count and which parts don't count."

The Incognito-Martin saga has many layers and lines are being blurred within the Dolphins locker room.

Miami players described Incognito and Martin as good friends. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill even described Martin as a protégé of Incognito's.

"Richie said, 'Jonathan is like my little brother,'" Tannehill recalled of a past conversation. "I think that's an accurate depiction. He gave him a hard time. He messed with him. But he was the first one there to have his back in any situation." ...

Andrew Abramson @AbramsonPBP

Clabo said Incognito might have been drunk when he left the now infamous voice mail for Martin.

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Quarterback Ryan Tannehill said two weeks ago he'd have described Incognito as Martin's best friend on the team. Offensive tackle Will Yeatman, Martin's roommate for road games, agreed with Tannehill's assessment.

"I thought they were very close," Yeatman said of Incognito and Martin, "and Jonathan and I were also very close." ...

Martin and Incognito were like brothers

This tells me everything I need to know. Incognito felt comfortable enough with Martin to joke around. Martin's departure was planned. The voicemail was obviously saved prior to camp which means it was premeditated. Martin's season was living up to his standards so he used this as an excuse to leave. A Ricky Williams moment if you will.

My Mexican friend texted me the night before our kickball game "make sure you get all of the olive oil off your hands you greasy whop". I guess I'm going to call his boss tomorrow. I don't even want say what I texted back...lol and yes, it was funny, we are "boys".

I really don't understand how someone can get forced into paying $10,000+ tabs

He doesn't need to. His teammates are doing it for him and it comes on the heels of the media trying to make Richie out to be some racist bastard.

They have egg on their faces right now. Once more facts got out, it became apparent to me Martin has been trying to cover his own butt for storming out. His family and counsel were trying to make him a sympathetic figure except it backfired. Wouldn't be surprised if his parents concocted this in order to ensure the Dolphins don't try to withhold money from his signing bonus.

My Mexican friend texted me the night before our kickball game "make sure you get all of the olive oil off your hands you greasy whop". I guess I'm going to call his boss tomorrow. I don't even want say what I texted back...lol and yes, it was funny, we are "boys".

He should be, he knows that this crap went on in GB.

From all it reports, it didn't.

Maybe they have a stronger code? lol. Seriously, I would bet it does.