DAVIE, Fla. — The basic role that Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito shared as offensive linemen for the Miami Dolphins was protecting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

The roles are now reversed.

Tannehill is defending both Martin and Incognito, the central characters in a bullying saga that has taken both offensive linemen off the field and continued to evolve Wednesday when the NFL appointed a lawyer to investigate possible misconduct within the team workplace. Shortly afterward, many Dolphins spoke out about the matter for the first time — and with at least one questioning Martin’s motives.

“I don’t know why he’s doing this,” offensive lineman Tyson Clabo said. “And the only person who knows why, his name is Jonathan Martin.”

Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Martin considered quitting football in the past, with one of those people saying it was because of how other offensive linemen treated him.

Incognito is suspended. Martin left the Dolphins last week after a lunchroom prank, and remains excused.

“If you had asked Jon Martin a week before who his best friend on the team was, he would have said Richie Incognito,” Tannehill said. “The first guy to stand up for Jonathan when anything went down on the field, any kind of tussle, Richie was the first guy there. When they wanted to hang out outside of football, who was together? Richie and Jonathan.”

The prank was a silly one — when Martin sat down to eat, everyone else at the table stood up and walked away. It’s apparently a go-to comedic ploy for the Dolphins.