NFL calls ‘timeout’

Dolphin move puts anthem rulings on hold

A joint statement was issued Thursday night by the NFL and NFLPA after the Miami Dolphins introduced a team policy that said players who protest on the field during the national anthem could be suspended for up to four games.

The statement said: “The NFL and NFLPA, through recent discussions, have been working on a resolution to the anthem issue. In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we 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 “Proper Anthem Conduct” section of the Dolphins’ policy is just one sentence in a nine-page discipline document provided to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the policy who insisted on anonymity because the document is not public. It classifies anthem protests under a large list of “conduct detrimental to the club,” all of which could lead to a paid or unpaid suspension, a fine or both.

Miami’s anthem policy comes after the NFL decided in May that teams would be fined if players didn’t stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” while on the field. The league left it up to teams on how to punish players. None of the team policies have been made public.

Stifled by the salary cap, the Atlanta Falcons won’t be offering Julio Jones a more lucrative contract. Not this year, at least. Now the question is: Will the star receiver show up for training camp?

The Falcons informed Jones several weeks ago that they would not renegotiate his current $71.5 million package, which still has three years remaining and included $47 million in guaranteed money.

The team hasn’t been told if Jones will be at training camp. Players are required to report next Thursday, with the first practice the following day.

LIBERTY LOSES TO DREAM

Renee Montgomery made a franchiserecord seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points, helping the host Atlanta Dream beat the Liberty, 82-68, for their sixth straight victory.

Tina Charles scored 11 points for the Liberty (7-16) to take sole possession of second on the franchise’s scoring list with 2,981. She entered tied with Cappie Pondexter and trails Vickie Johnson (3,246), who has held the record since 2005.

CELTS RE-SIGN SMART

The Boston Celtics re-signed guard Marcus Smart, bringing him back for four more years after he found the market for a restricted free agent defensive specialist wasn’t as lucrative as he’d hoped. A report said Smart will be paid $52 million over the next four years.

HOLE-IN-ONE, ALBATROSS BY TEEN

A 16-year-old made a hole-in-one and an albatross on consecutive holes in an American Junior Golf Association tournament in Halifax, Mass. Conor Kelly aced the 198-yard, par-3 eighth, hitting a 5-iron for his first hole-in-one.

Using the same ball on the 480-yard, par-5 ninth, he holed a 4-iron second shot from 220 yards for the albatross.