Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dolphins players get permission to kneel during the national anthem.
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas, tight end Julius Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills kneeled on one knee during the national anthem while on the sideline prior to Sunday night’s game against the Oakland Raiders, which goes against owner Steve Ross’ wishes.
But the players had permission for their actions.
The players, according to a source, told coach Adam Gase they felt the couldn’t be themselves with Gase’s anthem rule that required them to either go to the tunnel or locker room if they didn’t plan on standing during the anthem. The players also told Gase going to the tunnel or locker room interfered with their pregame preparations.
Gase told the players he prefers for them to stand while on the sideline, the source said, but respected their right to express themselves and relaxed the team rule.
Prior to the Tennessee game on Oct. 8, Ross said he wanted his players to stand during the national anthem. Ross said President Donald Trump made kneeling about dishonoring the flag and the military, not a protest of social injustices to minorities.
“He’s changed that whole paradigm of what protest is,” Ross said before the Titans game. “And I think it’s incumbent upon the players today, because of how the public is looking at it, to really stand and really salute the flag.”
Gase, speaking the day after the Tennessee game, said he made it a rule for players to stand if they’re going to be on the sideline. If they wished to kneel or make any other gesture to protest social injustice Gase said the players either had to stay in the tunnel or locker room.
Landry: offense ‘embarrassing’
Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry told NBC analyst Rodney Harrison, the former NFL safety, that Miami’s offense, which was averaging a leagueworst 13.1 points per game entering Sunday night’s game, has been ‘embarrassing’ this season.
“It’s embarrassing,” Landry said about Gase’s comments about the Dolphins having the worst offense in football heading into the game. “The things that we’ve put out so far is embarrassing, especially with the talent level that we have.”
Landry, when asked, also said he thinks he’s the best receiver in football.
“Yeah,” he said. “I feel like this, personally, I can’t expect anybody else to have that confidence about me if I don’t have it about me. And that’s something I truly believe in.
“I know the work that I put in. I just, honestly, I think for me, it’s about opportunities.”