( CNN ) -- NFL player Richie Incognito wants an expedited hearing on his suspension from the Miami Dolphins so he can return to the field soon . Incognito filed a `` non-injury grievance '' against the Dolphins , who suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team earlier this month , according to the NFL Players Association . Incognito said in an interview last weekend that his alleged bullying of Miami Dolphin teammate Jonathan Martin is misunderstood because `` people do n't know how Jon and I communicate to one another . '' Martin , 24 , left the team last month because of `` harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing , '' Martin 's lawyer said . Days later , Incognito , 30 , was suspended . `` The grievance challenges his suspension for conduct which was alleged to have occurred while he was with the club , '' the association 's statement said . `` In the grievance , Incognito requests that the hearing be held on an expedited basis so that he can immediately resume playing for the team . '' The Dolphins declined CNN 's request for comment on the filing . `` Our organizational policy is not to comment on grievance matters , '' a team spokesman said . Dolphins owner : `` We need to look at ourselves '' The NFL appointed veteran lawyer Ted Wells to investigate the controversy surrounding Martin 's departure and Incognito 's suspension . Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he called for the independent investigation by the NFL because he knew the objectivity of a team investigation could be questioned . `` We need to look at ourselves , '' Ross said . `` We have to examine everything internally . I know that this is so appalling to me . '' But Ross also said he wanted to avoid overreacting . He formed a committee to help guide the changes , including former Dolphin coach Don Shula and quarterback Dan Marino . `` We all know that the football locker room is a different workplace than most of us are accustomed to , '' Ross said . `` Basically , I do n't want to make any excuses . I want to know that our workplace going onward will be the best workplace that you can find in the NFL . '' Incognito acknowledged in an interview aired on `` Fox NFL Sunday '' that he used racist and vulgar language in voice mails and text messages to Martin but said it was `` coming from a place of love . '' `` No matter how bad and how vulgar it sounds , that 's how we communicate , '' he told Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer . `` That 's how our friendship was . '' `` For instance , a week before this went down , Jonathan Martin text me on my phone ' I will murder your whole F-ing family , ' '' Incognito told Glazer . `` Now , do I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family ? Not one bit . '' Dolphins owner delays meeting with Jonathan Martin . While Martin has not spoken publicly since the controversy erupted , his attorney David Cornwell broke the silence on his behalf with a prepared statement last week . Martin tried `` to befriend ... teammates who subjected him to the abuse with the hope that doing so would end the harassment '' -- something Cornwell called `` a textbook reaction of victims of bullying . '' The taunting did not stop , however , the lawyer said . He cited `` a malicious physical attack on him by a teammate and daily vulgar comments , '' and a threat of a group sexual assault against Martin 's sister . `` Eventually , Jonathan made a difficult choice , '' Cornwell said of Martin leaving the Dolphins . `` ... Jonathan looks forward to getting back to playing football . In the meantime , he will cooperate fully with the NFL investigation . '' `` The face of bullying in America '' `` Right , wrong or indifferent , because of all this , you 've become the face of bullying in America , '' Glazer told Incognito . `` Someone thinks of a bully , they think of Richie Incognito . '' `` This is n't an issue about bullying , '' Incognito said . `` This is an issue of my and Jon 's relationship , where I 've taken stuff too far , and I did n't know it was hurting him . '' A profanity-filled voice mail from Incognito to Martin that has been made public was intended to shock him so `` his buddy '' would call him back , he said . `` I understand why a lot of eyebrows get raised , '' Incognito said , `` when people do n't know how Jon and I communicate to one another . '' Richie Incognito , Jonathan Martin , and the NFL 's future . CNN 's Ross Levitt contributed to this report .
Dolphins suspended Incognito , accusing him of conduct detrimental to the team . The NFL said it was investigating whether he violated any rules in his relationship with a former teammate. Incognito wants case settled quickly so he can get back on the field .