INSIDE SLANT
The Miami Dolphins survived a near-death experience with Thursday's 22-20 overtime victory over the
Cincinnati Bengals. OK, maybe that's overstating things. But only slightly.
"This is a huge win for us," quarterback
Ryan Tannehill said.
Miami was "Team Turmoil" entering the Bengals game. The days leading up to the game featured right tackle
Jonathan Martin leaving the team amid reports of excessive bullying from teammates and an investigation by the NFL Players Association into that incident is now looking at the possible role of teammate
Richie Incognito.
And then there was center
Mike Pouncey being served with a subpoena in the bowels of Gillette Stadium.
All of this was worthy of national news of the worst kind for Miami.
Aside from that, wide receiver Brandon Gibson was lost for the season with a knee injury, there was a report that offensive players were unhappy with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman's play-calling, and, by the way, Miami was riding a four-game losing streak.
A loss to the Bengals likely would have killed any playoff hopes and threatened to tear the team apart.
But defensive end Cam Wake rescued the season when he sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in the end zone for the game-winning safety. It was only the third time in NFL history an overtime game ended with a safety.
"Definitely never a dull moment," Wake said when asked to summarize the past week. "I can assure you of that."
On Monday, Martin, the 2012 second-round pick from Stanford, reportedly slammed a food tray to the ground and stormed out of the team cafeteria after a prank by teammates went awry. He hasn't returned to the team and is listed with a non-football illness. FoxSports.com reported Martin was the subject of constant bullying by teammates.
Martin, the Dolphins' second-round draft pick in 2012 out of Stanford, has not been with the Dolphins since a Monday incident in which players jokingly refused to sit with him in the team's cafeteria.
Martin has reportedly been the subject of teasing and bullying by teammates in the locker room since 2012.
Incognito told NFL.com that he heard back from Martin on Friday after he reached out to him to see how he was doing.
"Yeah, I'm good man," Martin wrote during their conversation that lasted 19 text messages. "It's insane bro, but just know I don't blame you guys at all. It's just the culture around football, and the locker room got to me a little."
Martin's representatives would not comment to NFL.com about the situation.
One high-ranking Dolphins official who did not want to be identified told ESPN that Incognito has been a "model citizen" and is puzzled by the allegations of Incognito's involvement.
However, other sources told ESPN that Incognito has been involved in the alleged harassment of Martin going back to 2012. One of the sources said the emotional issues Martin has relate directly to the harassment.
An NFL spokesman said the league has contacted the Dolphins since Martin left the team and is monitoring the situation.
The players union said it is thoroughly investigating the team's workplace environment and players allegedly involved, including Martin and Incognito. NFLPA attorneys have already gathered details that identify Incognito prominently as one of the offenders, a source told ESPN.
Incognito sustained a neck injury during Thursday night's win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dolphins coach Joe Philbin on Friday addressed reports that Martin may have left the team because of bullying from teammates.
"I'm aware of this report, and I can say without question that we emphasize a culture of team first, accountability and respect for one another," said Philbin, who gave the team the day off. "Any behavior that deviates from that is inconsistent with the values of our organization.
"This is something that we take very seriously. It will not be tolerated."
The team said Martin would be welcomed back.
Martin expects to be away from the team for several weeks, according to NFL.com. According to the report, Martin has been in touch with teammates and is trying to work through his problems with his family. He hopes to return to the team at some point.
Philbin would not say if any players involved in the cafeteria incident will be disciplined
As for Pouncey, he's reportedly being required to testify about a gun trafficking case relating to former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, a friend and former teammate and roommate at Florida.
Against this backdrop the Dolphins took a 17-3 lead against the Bengals, fell behind, 20-17, with 1:24 remaining, then sent the game into overtime on a 44-yard field goal with 11 seconds left. Wake, who had three sacks, won it with his safety.
But the game also included cornerback Brent Grimes returning an interception 94 yards for a touchdown, running back
Lamar Miller rushing for a career-best 105 yards and oft-injured cornerback Dimitri Patterson recording his fourth interception in four games.
"When you step on that field all that other stuff is kind of out the window and you have to concentrate on your game," Wake said. "(Thursday) was definitely one of those nights where that had to be done, and I'm proud of the guys for doing it."
And now Miami's second life - the second half of the season -- begins.
The Dolphins (4-4) don't play again until their Nov. 11 game at Tampa Bay.
Philbin summarized the first eight games this way: "There's been a lot of good things on film and there's been some things that aren't so good... We have to find a way to play more consistently throughout the course of the game."
