NFL Postpones Miami Dolphins' Policy to Suspend Players Who Protest During Anthem

The Miami Dolphins initially stated they would suspend players for up to four days for protesting.

On Thursday, the Miami Dolphins were said to have included a policy to their player discipline document, in an effort to ensure that their players abide by the NFL’s newly implemented national anthem policy, warning them of a possible suspension of up to four days. The Dolphins classified anthem protests as “conduct detrimental to the team,” Deadline reported. The new policy was reportedly leaked to theAssociated Press. 

Shortly after the announcement was made, the NFL and the Players Association stepped in, releasing a statement saying they have “come to a standstill agreement on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy. No new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks while these confidential discussions are ongoing.” 

The NFL and NFLPA just released this statement in regards to the anthem issue pic.twitter.com/W3Jtwozqc5

In May, league owners passed a policy that required players to either stand for the national anthem, or stay in the locker room. The move appeared to be in response to Donald Trump’s criticism of players who protested the anthem as a way of bringing attention to racial injustices going on throughout the country. 

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross confirmed that theory to be true in his sworn deposition for Colin Kaepernick’s collusion grievance against the NFL. “I was totally supportive of (protesting players) until Trump made his statement,” he said. “I thought he changed the dialogue.”

It should be an interesting season. 

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