ALAMEDA, Calif. -- With the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin hazing scandal swirling in Miami, Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor believes the responsibility for putting an end to such bullying rests with team leaders.

Specifically, with the starting quarterback.

“You need to make sure you have your foot stepped forward, and I’m not trying to put down or say that the Dolphins quarterback isn’t doing that, I don’t know that,” Pryor said of Ryan Tannehill. “But in answering your question … I believe that the quarterback is very responsible for in-house and locker room things and deals and quieting situations down. I believe that people are going to listen to you if they respect you enough.

“I just think that we’re professionals, and I definitely hope we’ll see Martin playing again soon. I watched some film, he’s a good player. My hat’s off to him for standing up and being a man.”

Pryor is a first-year starter for the Raiders after being selected out of Ohio State in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft as the late Al Davis’ last pick.

“You want to cut things off, you know?” Pryor said of stopping situations before they get out of hand.

Pryor referenced stopping teammates from drinking too much.
“Hey, maybe you should take a cab,” he recalled advising a teammate.

“Something small like that, you just get so much respect from your teammate that you stopped and helped him … that definitely comes in a leadership role.”