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A18 SPORTS
Friday 20 July 2018

APNewsBreak: Dolphins anthem punishment includes suspensions

By ROB MAADDI ers unpatriotic and even
AP Pro Football Writer said NFL owners should fire
Miami Dolphins players who any player who refused to
protest on the field during stand during the anthem.
the national anthem could Some players countered
be suspended for up to that their actions were be-
four games under a team ing misconstrued and that
policy issued this week. they are seeking social
The "Proper Anthem Con- change rather than pro-
duct" section is just one sen- testing the anthem itself.
tence in a nine-page disci- Trump's criticism led more
pline document provided than 200 players to protest
to The Associated Press by during one weekend, and
a person familiar with the some kept it up throughout
policy who insisted on ano- the season. The NFL started
nymity because the docu- requiring players to be on
ment is not public. It classi- the field for the anthem
fies anthem protests under in 2009. "We want people
a large list of "conduct det- to be respectful of the na-
rimental to the club," all of tional anthem. We want
which could lead to a paid people to stand," Goodell
or unpaid suspension, a said at the May meetings,
fine or both. In this Sept. 11, 2017 file photo, from left, Miami Dolphins' Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael when he dismissed con-
Miami's anthem policy Thomas, and Kenny Stills, kneel during the singing of the national anthem before an NFL football cerns about the lack of
comes after the NFL de- game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. union involvement by con-
cided in May that teams Associated Press tending the league met
would be fined if players with countless players over
didn't stand during "The ment. Team officials had without consultation with posed having its executive the past year. "We've been
Star-Spangled Banner" no immediate comment. the players union, is incon- committee talk to the NFL very sensitive on making
while on the field. The "Players who are on the field sistent with the collective instead of litigating. The sure that we give players
league left it up to teams during the Anthem per- bargaining agreement and union said the NFL agreed choices," the commissioner
on how to punish players. formance must stand and infringes on player rights. to those discussions. added, "but we do believe
None of the team policies show respect for the flag The filing will be heard by In 2016, then-49ers quarter- that moment is an impor-
have been made public. and the Anthem," says the an independent arbitrator, back Colin Kaepernick be- tant moment and one that
The NFL rule forbids players 16th and final bullet point an NFLPA spokesman said. gan protesting police bru- we are going to focus on."
from sitting or taking a knee in the list of conduct con- When the league an- tality, social injustice and The league and a coalition
if they are on the field or sidered detrimental, below nounced the policy, racial inequality by kneel- of players have been work-
sidelines during the nation- riding motorcycles during Goodell called it a com- ing during the national an- ing in tandem to support
al anthem, but allows them the season and disparag- promise aimed at putting them and the demonstra- player initiatives for a vari-
to stay in the locker room if ing teammates, coaches or the focus back on football tion spread to other players ety of social issues. The NFL
they wish. The new league officials including NFL Com- after a tumultuous year and teams. It became one is committing $90 million
rules were challenged this missioner Roger Goodell. in which television ratings of the most controversial over the next seven years
month in a grievance by The NFLPA said earlier this dipped nearly 10 percent. and sensitive issues in sports. to social justice causes in
the players union. month that the NFL policy, The union said when it filed Critics led by President Don- a three-segment plan that
The NFL declined to com- which the league imposed the grievance that it pro- ald Trump called the play- involves league players.q

Chelios leaving Red Wings

to return to Chicago

nity to move back to Chi- Atlanta in 2009-10. and 2008.
cago to be closer to family, "I've thoroughly enjoyed "What an unbelievable ex-
and in particular my moth- being a part of the Red perience, playing on some
er," Chelios said Thursday. "I Wings organization over of the greatest teams in
began to seriously consider the last 19 years," Chelios league history, with some
moving home last Febru- said. "Admittedly, I was of the greatest players of
ary after the passing of my skeptical about the 1999 all-time," Chelios said. "I
In this Aug. 31, 2010, file photo, Chris Chelios talks about his father. Now that my chil- trade that brought me to consider myself extremely
retirement from the National Hockey League and his new role dren have all graduated, Detroit. As a Chicago guy lucky to have been a part
with the Detroit Red Wings during a news conference in Detroit. it seems like the ideal time who was playing for the of it all. The Cup-winning
for my wife, Tracee, and I to Blackhawks at the time, teams in 2002 and 2008
DETROIT (AP) — Chris Che- he's also been an adviser make the move." we despised those Detroit are the obvious highlights,
lios is leaving the Detroit for the team. His Hall of Chelios was traded to De- teams of the 1990s. After but I'm grateful for every
Red Wings to return to his Fame career as a defen- troit in March 1999 and the trade, however, things chance I had to put on a
hometown of Chicago. seman started in Montreal he remained with the Red changed quickly and I be- Red Wings sweater."
Chelios spent a decade before he spent eight years Wings through the 2008-09 gan to feel right at home." Chelios' son Jake is a defen-
with the Red Wings as a with the Blackhawks. season before finishing his Chelios and the Red Wings seman as well and is in the
player from 1999-2009, and "For me, this is an opportu- career with a brief stint with won Stanley Cups in 2002 Red Wings' organization.q