The Giants now have a connection to the Dolphins’ bullying scandal after signing veteran guard John Jerry on Friday to a one-year deal.
Jerry was one of three Miami linemen, along with Richie Incognito and Mike Pouncey, named in the Wells report last month as the primary tormentors of former Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin, who walked away from the team in October because of it. Martin recently was traded to the 49ers.
It remains unclear whether Jerry will face punishment from the NFL for the actions attributed to him in the report. Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to take any action, though Incognito – who recently spent time in an Arizona treatment facility – remains unsigned as a free agent.
Jerry was mentioned more than 100 times in the report and was cited as having begun the pattern of Martin’s locker-room hazing by challenging him to a fight in 2012. When Martin did not respond to Jerry’s taunt, Incognito and Pouncey allegedly joined in and set off a year of vicious hazing that included homophobic and racist slurs.
Jerry has not commented publicly about the allegations since the report was released shortly after the Super Bowl.
Jerry, 27, was a durable presence on the field for the Dolphins and started all 16 games at guard each of the past two seasons, though Miami allowed a franchise-record 58 sacks in 2013 and the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Jerry struggled at times with weight issues.
Jerry spent most of his time in Miami as a guard, but also played some at left tackle. Both of those positions are areas of concern for the Giants because of guard Chris Snee’s hip and tackle Will Beatty’s continuing comeback from a broken leg.
Jerry, a third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2010 out of Ole Miss, is the third veteran lineman signed by the Giants in free agency. Big Blue also added guard Geoff Schwartz and center J.D. Walton.