BY NICK ST. DENIS
Many question whether Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin, in the wake of a tumultuous and well-documented couple of years as a young professional, will return to action any time soon.
Those in Martin's camp, however, don't.
"He will be on the field in 2014," Martin agent Kenny Zuckerman said this weekend, via The Palm Beach Post. "There’s no doubt. He wants to, he’s ready, he’s excited. He’ll be somewhere this season."
Zuckerman's comments come within a day after Ted Wells released his report on the Dolphins' recent harassment scandal, which was centered around Martin. You can read the full report here.
Zuckerman also said he'll be meeting with the Dolphins' higher-ups this coming week at the NFL Scouting Combine, though it's highly doubtful Martin will ever return to the team he left in the middle of last season.
He's still under contract with the Dolphins and is expected to either be cut or traded. As the Post's Andrew Abramson notes, "the feeling is that a fresh start might be best for all involved. "
The conduct of Martin's teammates and some members of the staff, as detailed in the Wells report, certainly had a negative effect on Martin, but it's clear Martin has been dealing with emotional and social issues since grade school.
If a team is willing to take a chance on Martin, who is a more than serviceable tackle, it will do so knowing full well that the 24-year-old has some strings attached.
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