A former Miami Dolphins lineman identified as one of the targets of harassment in the racially charged bullying scandal said Saturday that he has no problem with the team in a statement released by his agent.
Andrew McDonald, Player A in an NFL-ordered report released Friday by lawyer Ted Wells, said in the statement that he is “disappointed his name has become associated” with the revelations about the reported harassment.
The report of Jonathan Martin’s allegations that he was harassed by teammate Richie Incognito, states that Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner didn’t attempt to stop the behavior and even took part in some of the taunting of Player A.
McDonald’s agent, Brett Tessler, said in the statement to The Associated Press that McDonald has “been a member of another organization since last season and is trying to focus on his future. When Ted Wells approached Andrew at the end of the investigation, Mr. Wells already had all the information contained in the report that he had gotten elsewhere.
“While Andrew can’t speak for other players involved in the report, he personally has had no problem with the Miami Dolphins organization and has the highest opinion of Coach Turner both personally and professionally and feels terrible about the way their relationship has been portrayed in the report.”
McDonald, 25, is currently with the Carolina Panthers.
Several people interviewed told investigators that Turner gave Player A, a male sex doll as a gag gift around Christmas 2012. Turner told investigators he did not remember the incident, but investigators said they did not believe him.
When asked if McDonald felt he was bullied or harassed, Tessler said the statement speaks for itself.
The 6-foot-6, 310 pound McDonald was an undrafted rookie out of Indiana who spent two seasons on the Dolphins practice squad before being released in final cuts last August. He signed with Carolina’s practice squad in October and recently signed a “futures contract” with the Panthers
The NFL report stated there was a “pattern of harassment” committed by at least three players and extended to two lineman and an assistant trainer, all targets of vicious taunts and racist insults.
It state that guard John Jerry and center Mike Pouncey followed Incognito’s lead in harassing Martin, who left the team in October. They threatened to rape his sister, called him a long list of slurs and bullied him for not being “black enough.”
The other harassed player, the report said, was “subjected to homophobic name-calling and improper physical touching,” while the assistant trainer, who was born in Japan, was subjected to racial slurs.
“It was not difficult to conclude that the Assistant Trainer and Player A were harassed, but the questions raised in Martin’s case were more complex, nuanced and difficult,” the report says.
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