After being at the center of a high-profile bullying scandal involving Richie Incognito and the Dolphins this season, offensive lineman Jonathan Martin hopes to continue his NFL playing career next season, as he told Tony Dungy of NBC Sports this week (interview transcript via James Walker of ESPN.com). Martin hasn’t spoken with the Dolphins since leaving the team and appears unlikely to return to Miami, but would like to play somewhere.
“I understand opportunities in the NFL are fleeting,” Martin said. “I’m hopeful that I get another opportunity and I can make the most of it, because this is what I love to do. I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t playing football.”
According to Jason Cole of the National Football Post, Martin would like to work with the Dolphins to find a suitable trade destination. While Miami likely wouldn’t receive much of a return for Martin, who will become trade-eligible in March, two NFL general managers at last week’s Senior Bowl told Cole the former second-round pick would have a little trade value.
It’s also possible that the Dolphins will simply release Martin, but potential suitors may be more inclined to work out a deal with Miami to avoid competing with other teams in the waiver process. The 24-year-old tackle is on an affordable contract, with a cap number of about $1.3MM in 2014 and $1.52MM in 2015.