Martin, object of alleged bullying and taunting from Dolphins teammates, was dropped from the team's 53-man roster.

That report comes after news his alleged tormentor, fellow starting lineman Richie Incognito, remains suspended by the team. Incognito is being paid despite his banishment.

An NFL investigation of the Dolphins continues. At its heart is the treatment of Martin, which has been painted in a spectrum from hazing to racial slurs.

An Oct. 28 prank went sideways, resulting in Martin's departure from the team. Incognito, fingered as a ringleader, was suspended Nov. 3.

Officially, Martin is on the reserve/non-football illness list. He will not return this season. It is unclear whether the team came to an agreement on his status or simply decided to clear space for a roster move.


CRABTREE TO MAKE SEASON DEBUT


Michael Crabtree will make his first appearance of the season Sunday when his San Francisco 49ers play host to the St. Louis Rams.

That's a huge boost to the Niners as they push for the playoffs. A week's worth of practice signaled Crabtree will be ready to return from a torn Achilles tendon in Week 13 of the NFL schedule.

"I just want to go out there and play ball like I do every Sunday when I'm out there," Crabtree told reporters on Friday. "It's going to be good to be out there with everybody."

At 7-4, the 49ers have an outside chance of catching the Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC West. That will require lots of help, beginning with the New Orleans Saints winning at Seattle.

For now, QB Colin Kaepernick will be happy to have Crabtree running opposite Anquan Boldin.

"It's really going to be great to be out there with Anquan, someone you looked up to when you were younger," Crabtree told the San Francisco Chronicle. I get to play beside him. Last year I had Randy Moss and this year it's Anquan. Every year, they give me somebody."


RAIDERS NOT SETTLED AT QB


Matt McGloin continues to impress the Oakland Raiders, but don't crown him yet as winner of a quarterback battle with Terrelle Pryor.

With their franchise struggling through another season, Raiders coaches and execs don't want to slam shut any competition for starting assignments. Nor are they prepared to leave behind plans for 2014.

McGloin, an undrafted QB from Penn State, will remain starter for now, coach Dennis Allen told the Bay Area News Group. However, his endorsement wasn't iron clad.

"I don't think he's done anything to play himself out of that position," Allen said.

Reading that, it's correct to realize the Raiders haven't given up on Pryor. Pryor played well at times, but his rough patches and a bum knee led the Raiders to McGloin, first in relief and for three games as the starter.

McGloin's starts included Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

"We need to have a good evaluation of what we have at the quarterback position as we move forward," Allen said. "These last four weeks will be instrumental in us being able to do that."


STEELERS PUT C VELASCO ON IR


Nothing is going right this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The latest blow came Saturday with word starting center Fernando Velasco is done for the season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Velasco went down in Thursday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game that now is an even bigger turkey for the troubled team.

When Maurkice Pouncey was felled by a season-ending injury in the 2013 opener — some harbinger, eh? — Steelers brass signed Velasco as a fill-in. The Tennessee Titans jettisoned Velasco just before camp ended.

Now the Steelers are looking for a third starter at center. They also need to plug a hole at left tackle, because Kelvin Beachum also was injured during the Ravens game. It's not clear how long Beachum will be out.

Also down is tackle Mike Adams, injury duration unknown; and running back Le'Veon Bell, being watched under NFL concussion protocol.

With Velasco done and defensive back DeMarcus Van Dyke released, the Steelers added offensive linemen Eric Olson and Rashad Butler. Olson, a 2010 New Orleans Saints pick, is a center, but Cody Wallace will likely get first crack at replacing Velasco, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Contributor: Ray Slover