Miami Dolphins' Jonathan Martin on Saturday was placed on the non-football-injury list, amid a simmering scandal involving teammate Richie Incognito, the Miami Herald reports.
That essentially writes him off for the rest of the season. The move comes nearly a month after Martin, the team’s starting right tackle, garnered national headlines with explosive charges of harassment by Incognito. NFL-appointed special counsel Ted Wells is investigating Martin’s allegations.
Incognito, with whom most team members have sided, has been suspended since Nov. 3, after the organization learned of a racially charged voicemail he left for Martin in April. He was not paid for the first two games of his suspension but was paid for last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers, and will be paid for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, the Herald reports, citing ESPN. He also will be paid for a maximum of two more games, after which the team must release him or reinstate him.
Although Martin has missed four games, the team was obligated to pay him because he remained on its 53-man roster until Saturday. In placing Martin on the non-injury list, the team reportedly pledged to pay his entire $607,466 salary this season, including for all nine games that he will miss. Teams are not required to pay players on the non-football-injury list.
Whether Martin returns to the Dolphins next season is up in the air. An associate told the Miami Herald that while he would like to resume playing next season, he might consider playing elsewhere. But it’s possible that Stephen Ross, the owner of the Dolphins, and others in the organization might try to convince him to return.
Read more at the Miami Herald.