Incognito lawyer says violent, offensive texts with Martin went both ways

Wilfredo Lee/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dolphins’ Richie Incognito (l.) is suspended by the team this season for allegedlly bullying Jonathan Martin (r.), but Incognito’s lawyer says Thursday the behavior went both ways.

Jonathan Martin sent his Miami Dolphins teammate and alleged bully Richie Incognito violent and offensive texts including one threatening to “send someone over to Incognito’s house with ‘a tranquilizer gun and sandpaper condoms’” Incognito’s lawyer said according to the Miami Herald.

Incognito’s lawyer said Thursday the texts from Martin never made his client feel in danger because Incognito saw the threats in a joking light and as “banter between friends.”

Incognito talks to Jay Glazer (l.) back in November.

Martin, an offensive lineman with the Dolphins, left the team in late October claiming he suffered extreme mental and physical abuse at the hands of Incognito, who was suspended for the remainder of the season by the team. Martin alleged Incognito referred to him as a “half n—–” and said he would “kill you” in texts before leaving the team, bringing national attention to the situation.

In a television interview back in November , Incogntio claimed that Martin sent him a message saying he would “murder (my) whole f—ing family.”

Lynne Sladky/AP

Jonathan Martin leaves the Dolphins claiming sever mental and physical abuse.

“He texted me. I didn’t think he was going to murder my family. I knew it was coming from a brother, I knew it was coming from a friend, I knew it was coming from a teammate. That just puts in context how we communicate with one another,” Incognito said in that interview, with Fox’s Jay Glazer.

Martin’s lawyer refuted Incognito’s claim, saying what Martin sent was an Internet meme .

Bill Feig/AP

Incognito’s lawyer paints the texts simply as rude and crass banter between friends.

Incognito’s lawyer told the Herald Incognito has “owned his inappropriate comments… now it is time for Jonathan Martin to do the same.”

The Miami Dolphins said in a statement: “Consistent with our organizational position, we are reserving further comment on this matter while the report is pending.”

Miami parted ways with general manager Jeff Ireland earlier this year. Assistant GM Brian Gaine was fired on Thursday. Joe Philbin is still the team’s head coach.

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