Michael Sam was the 249th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. After he was chosen by the St. Louis Rams, a photo of Sam kissing his boyfriend made the rounds. This was re-tweeted by Sam:
Wow.What a day. On cloud 9. So proud and happy! #stl #rams #draft @MikeSamFootball pic.twitter.com/XXG1tngGhq
— Vito (@Vitcamm) May 11, 2014
After the national coverage of Sam celebrating being drafted by the Rams, Miami Dolphins defensive back Don Jones tweeted “OMG” and “horrible”:
Fins DB @Don_Jones5 Doesn't Approve of ESPN’s Michael Sam Draft Coverage (h/t @Smithers_Rob) http://t.co/WBialgZV6W pic.twitter.com/2qn4nAEXXK
— Slice Miami (@SliceMiami) May 11, 2014
As a result, the Dolphins announced that the team is fining Jones and undisclosed sum and suspending him pending “educational training”:
Miami Dolphins Safety Don Jones Fined, Excused from Team Activities Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones has been (cont) http://t.co/I6dMYQ1JUh
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 12, 2014
From the team statement:
Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones has been fined an undisclosed amount and excused from all team activities until such time that he undergoes and completes educational training for his recent comments made on social media during the NFL Draft.
Head Coach Joe Philbin
“We were disappointed to read Don’s tweets during the NFL Draft. They were inappropriate and unacceptable, and we regret the negative impact these comments had on such an important weekend for the NFL.
Full statement here. It includes Don Jones’ apology.
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Commenters on Twitter tried to sort it out, including what exactly Jones’ “educational training” will consist of:
https://twitter.com/HoustonTx_Era/status/465677558344732672
@MiamiDolphins Absolutely pathetic that a guy expresses his own opinion and gets punished for it.
— Hussein Charara (@HCharara17) May 12, 2014
@MiamiDolphins Bullshit. Not only was what he said vague at best, but I didn't realize people weren't allowed to have opinions.
— Tony Hrvatska ?? (@tonybalogna) May 12, 2014
@MiamiDolphins WHAT A FUCKING JOKE YALL ARE! DON DID NOTHING WRONG! @Don_Jones5 #FreeDon
— ?♘ (@Ay0oAB_) May 12, 2014
@miamidolphins @awexler The gay mafia strikes again.
— Gary (@HotCornerBlues) May 12, 2014
Freedom of speech protects you from the government, not private entities, which is why Don Jones can be suspended and fined. Got it? Good.
— Kami Mattioli (@Kami) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/TheTweetSlinger/status/465702003503820800
https://twitter.com/mattw1218/status/465677486265610240
@MiamiDolphins lol smh. Fined for saying "omg. Horrible" to 2 guys kissing on a sports channel. Nobody allowed to have opinions anymore
— Xavier (@Fins7x) May 12, 2014
Why is freedom of speech so one sided? You can say whatever you want if you are on the left but Don Jones gets reamed @REALDINOCOSTA
— Brandon Monson (@brandonrmonson) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/JoeyyJetss/status/465678742644617217
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/465697903378321410
https://twitter.com/DixieSportsman/status/465679092978024449
https://twitter.com/Tark31/status/465686290675949568
@MiamiDolphins @RapSheet so glad we live in a world where ppl are punished for an opinion.this is insane.free speech. go play in Nkorea fins
— MonicaGeller (@hikinadams) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/mattw1218/status/465679758475288576
@MiamiDolphins seriously what happened to freedom of speech!?
— kique (@DoitWithJulio) May 12, 2014
@MiamiDolphins so, he is punished for having an opinion? I don't agree with Jones, but good grief. People still have right to their belief.
— Hilary (@Hil_Pill) May 12, 2014
@MiamiDolphins If a player says he doesn't like to watch straight people lick cake off each other will you fine him? NOPE. double standard
— MonicaGeller (@hikinadams) May 12, 2014
Hope your bullying of Don Jones works, @MiamiDolphins. Richie Incognito taught you well.
— Kim Jong-unthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/Myssatx/status/465692684183552000
Can't say OMG & Horrible you might have to pay a fine & go to 'Educational Training' Apparently they are anti gay http://t.co/f9PFfVc6hI
— JodiKyman (@jodikyman) May 12, 2014
So Don Jones got suspended from a sport he is paid to play for for something he wrote on twitter. Anybody else see the insanity here?
— Mcfly (@Sleepyjoe55) May 12, 2014
If Don Jones can get suspended for expressing his opinion on Twitter, then should Ray Rice should be BANNED From the NFL? #Justsayin
— Ryan Hoppe (@ryanhopperadio) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/AmericnElephant/status/465694412656218113
What does the educational training consist of?
— Jared (@jaredv87) May 12, 2014
@jaredv87 Someone tells Jones "stop saying stupid shit on Twitter or we're cutting you." Class ends after that.
— Amol Yajnik (@amolyajnik) May 12, 2014
@amolyajnik @jaredv87 Or Don Jones, your 1st Amendment rights are revoked as long as you play for @MiamiDolphins.
— Stacy Overby (@vaphinfan13) May 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/465689939149987840
https://twitter.com/FirstTeamTommy/status/465690332936810496
https://twitter.com/BreakingSoprano/status/465695366713581569
https://twitter.com/Tark31/status/465690907631554561
The 2014 season would be Don Jones’ second for the Dolphins, pending the outcome of his “educational training” of course.
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