Dolphins Trade Jonathan Martin To 49ers

Offensive lineman Jonathan Martin is no longer with the Dolphins. The team traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for a draft pick.

The reason for the trade seems obvious. Martin was subjected to harassment from teammate Richie Incognito and other linemen, and when everything was exposed, it seemed that he'd never play for the Dolphins again. Incognito's a free agent, Martin's now gone from Miami, and the Dolphins will move on. They signed offensive tackle Branden Albert today in a move to rebuild their line.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh coached Martin at Stanford before Harbaugh made the jump to the NFL, and Harbaugh vouched for Martin in Ted Wells's investigation of the team. From the report:

Jim Harbaugh, Martin's former head coach at Stanford and the current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, 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.

Martin hadn't played in the NFL since he left that cafeteria in anger back in late October, but he seems to be ready to get back to football now.