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Leadership vacuum? Ex-players wonder why no players intervened in Dolphins case

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FILE - In this July 24, 2013 file photo, Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito (68) and tackle Jonathan Martin (71) stand on the field during an NFL football practice in Davie, Fla. Two people familiar with the situation say suspended Dolphins guard Incognito sent text messages to teammate Jonathan Martin that were racist and threatening. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins and NFL haven\'t disclosed the nature of the misconduct that led to Incognito\'s suspension. Martin remained absent from practice Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, one week after he suddenly left the team. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

DAVIE, Fla. – A leadership vacuum may be partly to blame for the troubled relationship between Miami Dolphins offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, which has left both players sidelined and the team in turmoil.

The ongoing saga has raised questions whether coach Joe Philbin and his staff were negligent in allowing issues between Martin and Incognito to fester. Current and ex-players around the NFL say the situation reflects a lack of leadership because teammates of Martin and Incognito didn’t intervene to stop any harassment.

The NFL is investigating, trying determine who knew what, including whether Incognito harassed or bullied Martin. The second-year player left the team last week and is with his family in California to undergo counselling for emotional issues. Incognito has been suspended indefinitely.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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