After Dolphins S Don Jones "tweeted critical comments" about openly-gay Rams DE Michael Sam, the team "wasted little time" in handing out punishment, according to James Walker of ESPN.com. It took the organization "just one day to make a swift and stern ruling," as Jones was "fined an undisclosed amount, excused from the team and required to undergo educational training." The team said that Jones "cannot return" until that training is complete. Walker wrote the Dolphins were "wise to take a hard stance on this issue" (ESPN.com, 5/11). Walker noted Jones took to Twitter "soon after Sam was drafted and tweeted 'OMG' and 'horrible.'" He "deleted those tweets." Jones later "apologized to Sam in his first public comments about the situation" (ESPN.com, 5/11). In Miami, Adam Beasley noted Jones' tweets were taken down "within minutes." Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey: "I was disappointed in those comments. That's not what we stand for as an organization." But it was the "second social media snafu in three days for the Dolphins," as C Mike Pouncey, who was involved in the team's bullying scandal, tweeted after the team drafted OT Ja'Wuan James in the first round, "Great pick! I can't wait for our gifts he's getting us lol." Pouncey has since "deleted his account" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/11). ESPN.com's Walker wrote it has "not been a banner week" for the Dolphins on social media (ESPN.com, 5/10).
MAKING A STATEMENT: The MIAMI HERALD's Beasley writes although the Dolphins "did not disclose the amount" of Jones' fine, the "fact that they made the punishment public was significant" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/12). In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib writes the Dolphins want to "move past the embarrassing bullying scandal last season and are promising an era of acceptance in the locker room" (PALM BEACH POST, 5/12). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes under the header, "Will Dolphins Ever Learn Important Lessons?" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/12).
NOT ALL ARE ACCEPTING: In N.Y., Bill Hutchinson notes former NFLer Derrick Ward on Saturday "slammed ESPN" for showing Sam "kissing his boyfriend" after he was drafted. Ward tweeted, "Man U got little kids lookin at the draft. I can't believe ESPN even allowed that to happen" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12).
