Bullying scandal figure Turner now wants to 'be smarter'

New Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach Jim Turner, a central figure of the bullying scandal in Miami more than five years ago, said Thursday he has "to be smarter" in the way he motivates players. Turner was fired by the Dolphins following the 2013 season after an official report -- authored by Ted Wells -- concluded Turner tolerated and participated in the harassment and bullying of players, including Jonathan Martin.

"Unfortunately, some of the things that I said and some of the things I did with my players had to come out. And so, moving forward, I just have to be smarter about what I do when I try to use entertainment to motivate the players," Turner told ESPN from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. This marks Turner's return to the NFL for the first time since then, having been hired by head coach Zac Taylor.

Turner told ESPN that he likened dealing with NFL players as the same as dealing with Marines; Turner was a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. "When I'm standing in a room filled with Marines, it can be harsh and it can be direct as to what you want them to do. ... I don't see the NFL, speaking to an offensive line in the NFL, as much different," Turner told ESPN. "And so there are some things said sometimes that wouldn't come out right if the average citizen walking down the street were to listen to it."

Turner and Taylor have known each other since 2008, and Taylor defended the hire earlier this month, saying, "I know the man and I know he's a great person, great human. And so, somebody I trust." Turner, who most recently had been coaching the offensive line at Texas A&M, said he appreciates Taylor for the second chance.

"I appreciate Zac. Whenever you take these jobs, or any job for that matter, at some point when you try to make the thing right, you're going to have to stand on the table for somebody and I appreciate him doing that," Turner said.