Martin Not Up for Dolphins Return

Dolphins owner Steve Ross announced last week that he hopes to meet with bullied player Jonathan Martin and welcome him back to the team. A report from Andrew Abramson at the Palm Beach Post suggests that the beleaguered tackle would not be open to such a return

“How do you take [Martin] back?” a source close to the player asked. “Do you get rid of Pouncey? All these guys talked [stuff] about him. I don’t even know how it’s possible.”

The source refers to starting center Mike Pouncey, an elite player at the position. After firing their offensive line coach and cutting ties with starting guard Richie Incognito, would the Dolphins ditch their star center to further accommodate Martin? And would Martin wish to inject himself back into an environment that proved so unfriendly towards him–and may prove even more unwelcoming to him given the upheaval that many of his teammates clearly believe that he unleashed?

Martin left the Miami Dolphins in October and suffered hospitalization allegedly as a result of torment from fellow offensive linemen, specifically veteran guard Richie Incognito. The Dolphins suspended Incognito, who has a history of on- and off-field behavioral problems, in November. The Wells Report on the matter released nearly two weeks ago blamed the Dolphins for allowing an environment in which hazing and harassment could run rampant.