To no surprise (based on the content of the Ted Wells report), the Dolphins have fired offensive line coach Jim Turner.
To some surprise, the firing came five days after the release of the Wells report, which concluded that Turner: (1) participated in the harassment of former Dolphins lineman Andrew McDonald; (2) lied to investigators on multiple occasions (without specifically calling him a liar); and (3) tried to cajole Jonathan Martin into exonerating Richie Incognito by pleading with Martin via text message to “DO THE RIGHT THING.”
“The language and behavior as described in the Ted Wells report are against the core values of our organization,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement announcing the termination of Turner and head trainer Kevin O’Neill. “After receiving the report, I conducted my own internal review of the facts to determine the appropriate steps for our organization. Jim Turner and Kevin O’Neill are good people who care a great deal about their profession and the players whom they serve, but both exhibited poor judgment at times which led me to this conclusion. As owner, I know firsthand of the high-character and dedicated professionals in our building. I believe in our team and know the hard work and sacrifices they make every day on the field and in the community.”
Turner had been with the Dolphins two years. O’Neill spent 18 years in his position as head trainer.
It’ll be interesting to see how the players react to this development, either on the record, off the record, or on Twitter after drinking a few legal beverages.
