Dolphins Owner Is Keeping Options Open On Anthem
Hours after The Associated Press reported that Miami Dolphins players who protest on the field during the anthem could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued this week, the league and the players union issued a joint statement late Thursday night saying the two sides are talking things out.
The Dolphins said in a statement: The NFL required each team to submit their rules regarding the anthem before their players reported to training camp.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he hadn’t decided whether to actually discipline players who protest during the national anthem when he formally told the team that the demonstrations could be punishable.
We were asked to submit a form to the NFL on our overall discipline policy prior to the start of the rookie report date, Ross said in a statement Friday, explaining why a one-sentence reference to Proper Anthem Conduct was included in the teams official discipline policy.
Jets acting owner Christopher Johnson said shortly after the league announced its policy that he will not punish his players for any peaceful protests and would pay any potential fines incurred by the team as a result of his players actions.