Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones fined, excused from team activities

Jones apologizes for 'inappropriate comments'

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones has been fined an undisclosed amount and will undergo educational training after posting negative tweets about Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Shortly after the St. Louis Rams took Sam in the seventh round Saturday, Jones tweeted "OMG" and "Horrible." The tweets were taken down a short time later.

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"I want to apologize to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments that I made last night on social media," Jones said in a statement Sunday. "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."

Jones also apologized to the Dolphins and fans.

The Dolphins said Jones has been excused from all team activities until he completes training related to his tweets.

"We were disappointed to read Don's tweets during the NFL Draft," Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said in a statement Sunday. "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."

The organization reacted swiftly to Jones' comments in the wake of the team's bullying scandal last year, which inspired a nationwide debate about workplace harassment.