|
 Answer: No.
New York attorney Ted Wells began interviewing players regarding the
harassment case involving tackle Jonathan Martin and suspended guard
Richie Incognito. Wells' visit was expected to last at least two or
three days, ensuring further distractions for a team trying to keep
its season from derailing.
A defeat Sunday would have accelerated the Dolphins' recent
tailspin. Instead they beat San Diego 20-16 to improve to 5-5 and
remain in the race for an AFC wild-card berth.
"It's going to come down to a tight finish, and we have to win,"
quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "We want to win all the rest of our
games."
The Dolphins will try to do so while ensnared in the biggest scandal
in franchise history. Martin left the team three weeks ago and
alleges he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito.
On Friday, Martin spent nearly seven hours talking with Wells.
Before the attorney began his interviews with other players, he
released a statement — his first public comments about the
investigation.
"We look forward to meeting with Dolphins players, coaches and staff
in order to get the facts and prepare a thorough and fair report,"
Wells said. "The Dolphins organization has been very helpful in
arranging the interviews and urging their personnel to cooperate
with the investigation. We have asked all Dolphins personnel to
respect the process and avoid commenting on the investigation."
Wells was appointed Nov. 6 by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to
investigate the Dolphins' workplace and prepare a report that will
be made public.
"As we've said from Day One, we're going to fully cooperate," coach
Joe Philbin said.
Offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said he was among those scheduled
to talk Tuesday with Wells, after players had been interviewed.
"Hopefully most of what the players have to do will be taken care of
today," Sherman said.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said he didn't expect the
investigation to significantly affect preparations for Sunday's home
game against Carolina.
"We've been told they're going to do everything they can to not
disrupt the normal flow of the week," Coyle said. "I don't think
it's going to have much of an impact."
Philbin agreed.
"We're sticking to the schedule," he said. "We'll be fine."
As tackle Tyson Clabo noted, the Dolphins are 2-1 since Martin left
the team and the scandal began to unfold. Eight wins might be enough
to make the playoffs in the parity-filled AFC, and the Dolphins are
tied with the Jets in the race for the sixth and final playoff spot.
[to top of second column] |
The teams play each other Dec. 1 and Dec. 29.
The Dolphins are at .500 even though they've been outgained by
571 yards this year, and they were hardly dominant against the
Chargers, who totaled 435 yards but scored only one touchdown.
Miami won despite missing 60 percent of its offensive line,
including center Mike Pouncey, who was out sick. Replacements
included undrafted rookie Sam Brenner, who won praise from
teammates in his NFL debut.
The victory inspired an emotional postgame locker-room pep talk
by the stoic Philbin.
"The focus and the resiliency of you guys, all right, this week
amid all that's going on — unbelievable," Philbin shouted.
"Fantastic job by you guys hanging tough, sticking together and
working at your job, being a pro, coming to work every day
regardless of the circumstances."
Receiver Mike Wallace conceded the game seemed like a refuge
amid the recent media scrutiny.
"This is one of the only things we have to escape everything
else — to just go out and play a football game," Wallace said.
"Any time you can get a win it makes everyone around you feel
good, and even the people who are not around you."
That might include the two fans sitting side by side Sunday who
wore brown bags over their heads, one bearing a photo of
Incognito, the other a photo of Martin.
Martin, a second-year pro from Stanford, has been with family in
California undergoing counseling for emotional issues. He
attended Stanford's game Saturday at Southern Cal, watching from
the sideline.
Incognito filed a grievance last week against the Dolphins
seeking to rejoin the team.
Revelations about their relationship struck a national nerve on
the issue of locker-room bullying, and have even gone global.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana offered a
reaction Monday from the Great Wall of China, where he was on a
tour to promote football.
Montana said bullying was common in the NFL, and said the locker
room is a "fun, crazy place," but he added: "It's a tough place,
too, sometimes."
___
AP NFL website:
http://www.pro32.ap.org/
[Associated
Press; STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer]
Follow Steven Wine on
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Steve_Wine.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
