Martin eager to put bullying scandal behind him with new opportunity.
The San Francisco 49ers have traded for former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, reuniting him with his college coach, Jim Harbaugh.
Following on from the bullying scandal in Miami last season, the deal was announced on Tuesday night on the first day of NFL free agency as both franchises confirmed the move.
It is understood that Miami will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in 2015 if Martin is on San Francisco’s opening 53-man roster, while the player himself must still pass a medical to complete the deal.
The move allows Martin to return to the Bay Area where he has started taking classes at Stanford, and the 24-year-old took to Twitter to reveal his excitement over the new deal.
“Opportunities are few in the NFL…Can’t wait to get to work #9erEmpire,” he wrote.
A three-month investigation eventually determined that former teammate Richie Incognito and two others engaged in persistent harassment with Martin, while another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer were also said to be involved.
Icognito and John Jerry became free agents on Tuesday and aren’t expected to play for the Dolphins again, while the organisation fired Jim Turner and Kevin O’Neill last month.
Nevertheless, Martin’s departure has been expected for some time as back in January owner Stephen Ross suggested that he didn’t expect him to play for the team again, and instead he now has an opportunity to re-establish himself in the league in familiar surroundings.
Martin was a second-round draft pick by Miami in 2012, but despite becoming a starter as a rookie he struggled at times without settling in a specific position, an area he will look to improve on in San Francisco with Harbaugh.
COMMENTS