Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said Monday night he would meet with Jonathan Martin this week to hear the offensive tackle's side of what has become a national story involving locker-room bullying and racist comments.
Speaking in Tampa, Fla., little more than two hours before the Dolphins were to play the Buccaneers, Ross said he planned to meet with Martin on Wednesday. The owner also said he had created a five-person committee, which includes Miami icons Don Shula, Dan Marino and Jason Taylor, to review the team's locker-room culture.
"We don't want to rush to judgment," Ross said. "We're waiting for the facts to arrive.
"I know changes will be made. I know we have to look at ourselves."
The owner, speaking publicly for the first time since the story became a daily topic for the national media, said he was "appalled" when he first heard accusations of Martin being bullied by teammates and upon seeing texts and voice-mail words attributed to guard Richie Incognito.
"It couldn't have been a worse nightmare," said Ross, who was joined at the press conference by team president and chief executive officer Tom Garfinkel.
Ross several times expressed full support and confidence in head coach Joe Philbin, who, the owner said, called right after Martin left the team to explain what happened. Ross, however, did not mention general manager Jeff Ireland and said he would speak with Incognito only after being pressed on the matter.
"Joe Philbin is probably one of the most organized people I've ever met," Ross said. "When I interviewed him, that stood out, but what also stood out was his character. I don't think there is a better person, a more respected person, a more caring person in the National Football League than Joe Philbin."
Ross said he formed the committee -- with Shula, Marino, Taylor, former NFL coach Tony Dungy and former running back Curtis Martin -- to review the Dolphins locker-room culture. The owner added one or two more people could be added.
Another committee to review Miami's internal culture will be chaired by Garfinkel and include Ireland, Philbin and executive vice president Dawn Aponte.
"We need to look at ourselves. We have to examine everything internally," Ross said. "This is so appalling to me. I know I'm capable of overreacting. I want to get everybody's feedback because we all know the football locker room is a different workplace than most of us are accustomed to. I don't want to make any excuses."
Martin left the Dolphins on Oct. 28 after teammates pulled a prank in the team's cafeteria. Reports soon surfaced the tackle had received texts and voice mails with racist comments from fellow lineman Incognito.
The NFL is investigating Martin's allegations against teammates, including Incognito, who has been suspended indefinitely. The league's special investigator will determine whether Incognito harassed Martin and whether the team mishandled the matter.
Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas.
