Jonathan Martin, Face of Dolphins Scandal, Set to Retire
One of the many faces of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal is walking away from the league. Offensive lineman Jonathan Martin, who set off a firestorm after accusing teammate Richie Incognito of extreme harassment, filed league paperwork to officially retire from the National Football League.
According to league sources, Martin was set to undergo surgery to correct an issue in his back. The surgery would have essentially eliminated Martins’ chances of playing in 2015. The 25-year old offensive lineman ultimately decided to walk away and forego the procedure.
Former #Dolphins & #49ers OL Jonathan Martin is retiring, source said. A back injury means surgery, and he’s choosing to walk away.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2015
After a solid career at Stanford, Martin was drafted number 42 overall in the 2012 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Amid injuries and other struggling lineman, Martin started at both left and right tackle early in his career for the Dolphins. After the Dolphins bullying scandal, the Dolphins traded Martin to the San Francisco 49ers for a conditional seventh round draft pick, which they did receive. Martin would later be waived by the team in the 2015 offseason. Until recently, Martin was under contract with the Carolina Panthers, who claimed the 25-year old on waivers.
NFL fans and the general population of the United States quickly learned Martins’ name when the sophomore lineman left the Dolphins citing “emotional” reasoning. Martin referred league investigators to multiple situations in which he felt he was being mistreated by teammates, namely fellow lineman Richie Incognito. Graphic voicemails and other threatening evidence would eventually lead to Incognito’s suspension. It was also reported that the Dolphins coaching staff encouraged Incognito to “toughen up” Martin. An investigation by Ted Wells revealed much of the NFL “locker-room culture” that led to Martins’ emotional distress.
Even with Martins’ retirement, the Panthers seem to be settled at the offensive tackle position. Michael Oher is expected to anchor the left side of Cam Newton, while Mike Remmers and Nate Chandler are set to battle in camp. The team also has fourth round pick Daryl Williams on their roster as they enter camp. The Panthers open their 2015 training camp on Friday, July 31st.
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