Dolphins coach Joe Philbin: Bullying ‘will not be tolerated’
Jonathan Martin had started seven games at right tackle for the Miami Dolphins this season. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said Friday that the organization will not tolerate bullying amid reports that teammates teased right tackle Jonathan Martin, causing him to leave the team.
Martin left the team on Monday after a lunch-room prank in the team's cafeteria. Martin reportedly slammed his tray down when he was being bullied.
According to NFL.com's Jeff Darlington, Martin is expected to be away from Dolphins for several weeks to work through personal issues, none of which are related to “bullying."
Martin, a second round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, is seeking help for emotional issues, and the team has expressed concerned Martin.
“This is something we take very seriously,” Philbin said to the Miami Herald. “I can say without question that we emphasize a culture of team first, accountability and respect for one another.”
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"[But] I’ve never been on a team or been part of a team where there wasn’t respect among the players in the locker room, the staff amongst themselves, the players respecting the coaches and the coaches respecting the players," Philbin said. "If you don’t have that in this league, or Pop Warner, or high school or college, you don’t have a chance. I believe strongly in the men we have in the locker room, and I believe strongly in the staff.”
