Jim Harbaugh was not bluffing when he voiced his support for Jonathan Martin during the bullying scandal involving Richie Incognito.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers have agreed to trade a conditional pick to the Miami Dolphins for Martin, who was a second-round pick of the team in 2012.
Martin infamously left the Dolphins last season after being emotionally tormented by his teammates, most notably Richie Incognito. Despite the scandal, Martin’s representative indicated the offensive lineman planned to continue his NFL career. It looks like he’ll get his way and be reunited with his college coach.
Martin played three seasons at Stanford — two under Harbaugh — before leaving for the NFL Draft. He was a two-time All-American and first-team Pac-12 player in college.
Here’s what Harbaugh told the Ted Wells investigators about Martin.
“(Harbaugh), told us that he had never doubted Martin’s tenacity, work ethic and dedication to the game, and that he had never seen Martin exhibit problems with social adjustment. Coach Harbaugh told us he believed that Martin likely could continue to have a successful career in the NFL. It appears that Martin was up to the challenge of dealing with physical or verbal intimidation by opposing players during NFL games, but fell victim, at least in part, to persistent taunting from his own teammates.”
“Although initially quiet, he became a vocal leader on the team by his final year,” the report states. “Coach Harbaugh emphasized that he never doubted Martin’s physical or mental toughness, and he believes that Martin can continue to have a successful career in the NFL. Coach Harbaugh also said that the atmosphere in the Stanford locker room, in his view, was not materially different from that of the San Francisco 49ers’ locker room.”
Martin was pretty pumped about the trade.
Big news…. Beyond Blessed
— Jonathan A. Martin (@J_Martin71) March 12, 2014
Opportunities are few in the NFL… Can't wait to get to work #9erEmpire
— Jonathan A. Martin (@J_Martin71) March 12, 2014
According to CSN’s Matt Maiocco, Martin will compete for the backup tackle job on both sides of the line. He was initially drafted to be a left tackle and was switched to the right side midway through last season.
