Former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Lydon Murtha told TheMMQB.com that Richie Incognito took Jonathan Martin "under his wing" during Martin's uneasy rookie season in 2012.
"Martin had a tendency to tank when things would get difficult in practice, and Incognito would lift him up," Murtha wrote. "He'd say, there's always tomorrow. Richie has been more kind to Martin than any other player."
It's the type of insider account that makes you wonder what was the real relationship between the two men before things went nuclear.
On that subject, club sources told NFL Media's Albert Breer that Martin was one of the players who voted Incognito onto the team's leadership council this season.
Food for thought.
In other news, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith released a statement on the situation, one day after the NFLPA contacted the agents of Incognito and Martin in the hopes of setting up a meeting.
Martin's new counsel might decide if such a meeting takes place. Citing an involved source, NFL Media's Steve Wyche reported Thursday that Martin has hired sports attorney David Cornwell to advise him in the Dolphins case. NFL Media's Albert Breer reported that it was Martin's mother who requested Cornwell be brought in as an adviser, for crisis management purposes, according to a source with an understanding of the situation.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" previewed "Thursday Night Football" and "stuck a fork" in the Raiders' 2013 chances.