Dolphins fire line coach, head trainer in wake of bullying report

The Miami Dolphins fired offensive line coach Jim Turner and longtime head athletic trainer Kevin O’Neill on Wednesday for their roles in the team’s bullying scandal.

The moves were the first punitive steps taken by the Dolphins since a report on the NFL’s investigation of the case was released last week.

Investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two teammates engaged in persistent harassment directed at tackle Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer. Martin left the team at midseason, and Incognito was suspended for the final eight games.

Turner didn’t attempt to stop the harassment and even took part in some of the taunting of offensive lineman Andrew McDonald, the NFL report said. O’Neill expressed hostility toward the investigation and cut short an interview with those conducting it, according to the report.

O’Neill was fired shortly after he and other team officials arrived in Indianapolis for the league’s annual scouting combine. Turner didn’t make the trip.

In a news release announcing the firings, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said the behavior described in the report was “against the core values of our organization.”

“After receiving the report, I conducted my own internal review of the facts to determine the appropriate steps for our organization,” Ross said. “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.”

Ross said he has been in contact with Martin and will meet soon with the two-year veteran. Martin has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Dolphins, but last month Ross said he didn’t believe the tackle would play again for Miami. Incognito becomes a free agent this winter and will try to sign with another team.

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Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis has been suspended indefinitely without pay for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The league made the announcement Wednesday.

It’s the second substance-abuse suspension for Davis, who will become a free agent next month. He was also sanctioned for the final four games of the 2011 season. Davis, a second-round draft pick by the Redskins in 2008, caught only seven passes last season and was passed on the depth chart by rookie Jordan Reed.