Dolphins fine, suspend Don Jones from offseason program

[Just Passin' By]

Just as the Dolphins were watching the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito mess fade into the distance, another member of the team has created a situation with which the team dealt swiftly and decisively.

The Dolphins announced that cornerback Don Jones has been fined by the team and excused from offseason workouts “until such time that he undergoes and completes educational training for his recent comments made on social media during the NFL Draft.”

Specifically, Jones posted disapproving comments on Twitter after the Rams drafted defensive end Michael Sam — and after ESPN showed an on-air kiss between Sam and another man who wasn’t his twin brother. Jones said “omg” after the kiss was televised, and later called the moment “horrible.”

“I want to apologize to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments that I made last night on social media,” Jones said in a statement released by the team. “I take full responsibility for them and I regret that these tweets took away from his draft moment. I remember last year when I was drafted in the seventh round and all of the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team and I wish him all the best in his NFL career. I sincerely apologize to Mr. Ross, my teammates, coaches, staff and fans for these tweets. I am committed to represent the values of the Miami Dolphins organization and appreciate the opportunity I have been given to do so going forward.”

“We were disappointed to read Don’s tweets during the NFL Draft,” coach Joe Philbin said. “They were inappropriate and unacceptable, and we regret the negative impact these comments had on such an important weekend for the NFL. We met with Don today about respect, discrimination and judgment. These comments are not consistent with the values and standards of our program. We will continue to emphasize and educate our players that these statements will not be tolerated.”

While Jones’ comments were inappropriate and merit scorn from the general public, it’s tricky to punish a player for views expressed on his own time via his own Twitter page while away from the workplace regarding someone who isn’t even on his team. Plenty of NFL players have made homophobic remarks over the years on Twitter and elsewhere; those comments often are ignored by their teams. Why does the fact that Jones’ remarks — which were far more tame than some of the stuff other NFL players have said about homosexuals — related to a player on another NFL team make them automatically worthy of punishment?

That’s not a rhetorical question. If the arrival of an openly gay man on an NFL team is going to subject players to punishment for saying things that reflect intolerance of homosexuality, all players deserve the benefit of clear guidance as to what will trigger adverse action from their employer.

If the NFL isn’t going to provide it voluntarily, the NFLPA needs to demand it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...eason-program/

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Free speech does not mean free from consequences of speech, episode 781,394.

That line is getting tossed out a lot, but it's not really an adequate rebuttal. Free speech is most certainly being curbed. If someone has to face "consequences" for taking a political/opinion stand that nearly 1/2 of Americans agree with, then speech is being taken by force. Does the NFL really believe fans will start boycotting their product if teams don't toe the PC line?

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That line is getting tossed out a lot, but it's not really an adequate rebuttal. Free speech is most certainly being curbed. If someone has to face "consequences" for taking a political/opinion stand that nearly 1/2 of Americans agree with, then speech is being taken by force. Does the NFL really believe fans will start boycotting their product if teams don't toe the PC line?

A full-on boycott isn't the only consequence for the NFL. Individual team brands can be harmed, general disinterest can increase, etc.

There's no government legislation that is making players get fined. Hell, there's not yet any LEAGUE rules causing fines for this. The Dolphins acted alone.

Therefore, this is an example of free citizens coming together to decide what speech is socially acceptable and useful. Free speech isn't being taken by force, its being decided on by consensus.

[R8RFAN]

he tweeted "Horrible" and "OMG"

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

he tweeted "Horrible" and "OMG"

That's what I gathered too.

That's an awful lot of meaning assigned to just two words. He could have meant a lot of things.

[R8RFAN]

Look.. who cares if he is gay as long as he can play... I get this..
But... I cringed and I admit it..

I also cringe when a real ugly girl gets kissed (I know I am bad)
I cringe when I see that Andrew Zimmer dude eats Hog Nuts or bugs
I also cringe when I see two men suck face on tv... Do I cringe when two females do it? No I don't as much, but that's because I am not female and can only relate to the good parts for me of sucking face with a woman...

I would like to see the TRUE feelings of full grown heterosexual men on seeing two dudes suck face on tv, I bet most cringed when they saw it but just won't admit it.
My nephew is gay, I truly believe the kid was born gay, he acted feminine and not boyish from a very young age and he is now as flamboyant as I have ever seen..
Do I approve of his lifestyle- No but it's his business, who cares
If that means I am a Bigot then so be it

[Msmith]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

That's what I gathered too.

That's an awful lot of meaning assigned to just two words. He could have meant a lot of things.

Totally agree.

Jones could fight the suspension stating that what he meant in the Twitter was about Michael Sams sucks as a player, not his sexual orientation.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by Msmith

Totally agree.

Jones could fight the suspension stating that what he meant in the Twitter was about Michael Sams sucks as a player, not his sexual orientation.

or it sucks that he went to St. Louis

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Msmith

Totally agree.

Jones could fight the suspension stating that what he meant in the Twitter was about Michael Sams sucks as a player, not his sexual orientation.

Or he could just do what the Duck Dynasty guy did and make a stand on freedom of expression grounds which Americans by and large still support, even if their pathetic elites don't.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

I cringed and I admit it..

I cringed too but that is a problem with me, not him.

I'm old and crusty, so change is painful. I don't find guys 'hot' so seeing two 'not hot' beings kiss is not pleasant.

But like i said, that is strictly on me and i need to get over it.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

There's actual a practical reason: Gays are NFL fans, too. Not real smart in a business sense to have people making homophobic comments, same as it would be with racial/ethnic comments. All this Sam stuff has just brought more of a spotlight on it than was there before. Hopefully in a few days it stops being such a circus. You'll know things are better when they're talking about him as a football player, instead of a gay football player.

Homos have zero economic power in our economy.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Homos have zero economic power in our economy.

i hope that is sarcasm

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

i hope that is sarcasm

The account for 3 percent of the population. They don't matter.

[DaveNull]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Homos have zero economic power in our economy.

Except that guy who's CEO of one of the biggest and most successful companies in the world.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That line is getting tossed out a lot, but it's not really an adequate rebuttal. Free speech is most certainly being curbed. If someone has to face "consequences" for taking a political/opinion stand that nearly 1/2 of Americans agree with, then speech is being taken by force. Does the NFL really believe fans will start boycotting their product if teams don't toe the PC line?

All well and good if you're clear you're talking about free speech as a societal boon, not a Constitutional right.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

The account for 3 percent of the population. They don't matter.

still smells like sarcasm, but i'll bite


America’s LGBT 2013 Buying Power Estimated at $830 Billion
Washington, D.C. – November 18, 2013 – The total buying power of the U.S. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adult population for 2013 is projected to be $830 billion, according to an updated analysis by Witeck Communications.

http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazi...t-830-Billion/