Jonathan Martin, a former NFL player, has sparked outrage by making a shocking U-turn on the bullying claims that led to his abrupt departure from the Miami Dolphins in 2013.

The controversy, which once rocked the NFL, saw Martin quitting the team after alleging that he was the victim of constant harassment by teammates.

However, in a recent interview with ESPN, Martin now claims that he never truly believed he was bullied, blaming his mother for pushing the narrative.

The Original Bullying Scandal

Back in 2013, Martin walked away from the Dolphins, claiming he was being tormented by teammates, particularly Richie Incognito.

The situation led to a high-profile NFL investigation, headed by Ted Wells, which confirmed that Incognito, along with teammates Mike Pouncey and John Jerry, had been involved in a pattern of verbal abuse.

The investigation also revealed that Martin had checked himself into a hospital, prompting his mother to fly out to Florida to be by his side.

Despite the findings, Martin’s departure left many questions unanswered about the nature of the harassment and the extent of his involvement in the situation.

Martin’s New Claims

Now, more than a decade later, Martin has made a stunning claim during his ESPN interview, stating that he “never believed for a second” that he was being bullied.

He said the situation was blown out of proportion, with his mother taking it to the media.

“I had a situation with my teammates that I wasn’t super happy about, but my mother had her own read on the situation,” Martin explained.

“I hadn’t even told my coaches or anyone, and suddenly it’s on ESPN, right? I didn’t believe any of the stances I was taking where I’m this victim. I wasn’t a victim.”

Martin further acknowledged the role his mother played in shaping the narrative, describing her actions as a misguided attempt to protect him.

“My mother maybe in her mind — I can’t read her mind — thought she was doing the right thing,” he added.

“It’s a story that I’ve been trying to fix for 10 years.”

Incognito Responds with Fury

Martin’s comments were met with immediate backlash, especially from Incognito, who took to social media to express his anger.

Incognito accused Martin of trying to ruin his career with a lie, and stated that it was Martin’s mother who had fabricated the bullying story.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Incognito wrote, “You tried to ruin my career over a lie! A decade later Jonathan Martin admits he was never bullied.”

He went on to accuse the media, including ESPN and Adam Schefter, of pushing a false narrative that destroyed lives and careers.

“The NFL and the media ran with a false narrative, ruined careers, and moved on,” Incognito declared.

Incognito’s anger didn’t stop there.

He also accused the media of protecting Martin’s financial interests by fueling the bullying story to prevent the Dolphins from seeking a return of his signing bonus.

“Legacy media pushed this narrative long and far. Too bad it was all a lie!”

Family’s Perspective

While Martin’s mother, Jane, declined to comment to ESPN, his father Gus provided some insight into their protective stance during the ordeal.

Gus admitted that he and his wife intervened to ensure their son was shielded from further harm, emphasizing their role in supporting Martin.

At the same time, Gus played a voicemail message that Incognito allegedly left for Martin in April 2013.

The message, which was filled with graphic and violent threats, became a focal point in the bullying investigation.

Career Aftermath

After the incident, Incognito was suspended from the NFL for the remainder of the 2013 season and did not play in 2014.

However, he later returned to the league with the Buffalo Bills in 2015. He played with the Bills for three seasons before joining the Oakland Raiders.

Meanwhile, Martin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and played 15 games in the 2014-2015 seasons.

Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a back injury, and he retired after a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers.

Moving Forward: What’s Next?

The backlash from Martin’s recent comments has reignited the debate surrounding his departure from the Dolphins and the role of the media in shaping public perception.

With both Martin and Incognito now offering differing accounts of the events, it remains to be seen whether the full truth will ever come to light.