3 Dolphins protest at anthem, plan to continue during season
MIAMI GARDENS — Three Dolphins continued to protest social injustice by taking action during the national anthem Sunday.
Wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson took a knee and defensive end Robert Quinn raised a fist prior to the Dolphins’ season opener against Tennessee.
Stills said last week that the NFL should have taken the same supportive stand as Nike took in a just-launched Colin Kaepernick advertising campaign.
“I feel like the NFL could’ve done a better job of controlling the narrative from the beginning,” Stills said. “If the NFL would have done something like Nike did — some type of campaign, explaining this whole situation, having his back, supporting us, supporting our First Amendment right — then this thing would be going in a whole different direction. I think we’ve made progress, but obviously we have a ways to go.”
Stills and Wilson knelt throughout the preseason. And Quinn raised a fist. All three have indicated a plan to do it this season.
On Sunday morning, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison. Viewership declined 13%, the lowest in over a decade. If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!”
Stills was the subject of a recent New York Times story on the subject, illustrating the widespread reach of his actions.
Miami coach Adam Gase has said he prefers to focus on football and will not give any instruction on the matter to his players. The NFL would prefer players stay in the locker room if they’re not going to stand.
But reports Sunday indicated there is not expected to be a new policy regarding kneeling this season.
Wilson shows up with speed, elusiveness: Wide receiver Albert Wilson didn’t put up any amazing numbers in his Dolphins debut, but he showed flashes of what the team imagined when it signed him during Sunday’s win.
He caught a quick pass from Ryan Tannehill on a second-and-8 in the first half and slipped a couple tackles on his way to a 21-yard gain that took Miami to the Titans’ 24-yard line. In an offense that values safe throws with potential for huge pickups, Wilson gave the Dolphins what they needed.
“That’s part of the reason they brought me here, for my energy in the game,” he said. “I come with that every week. That’s part of my role. They give me opportunities to bring a lot of energy, and I did a pretty good job.”
He finished with three catches for 31 yards, and the former college running back ran twice for a total of seven yards.
It was particularly special for Wilson, who grew up in Port St. Lucie and had at least two dozen friends and family members in attendance. His entire crew waited out the four hours’ worth of lightning delays to watch him emerge with a win.
“It was great, man,” Wilson said. “Besides the weather delays, I really enjoyed it. It was crazy, but I made a good first impression.”
Gore enjoys return to Miami: Running back Frank Gore said he was so focused during his Dolphins debut that he didn’t notice the fans’ crooning cheer after each of his carries.
Told that it sounded like a prolonged “U,” Gore laughed.
“I did go to the U, and I am home, so it probably was,” he concluded.
The 35-year-old University of Miami legend fell 15 yards short Sunday of passing Curtis Martin for fourth all-time on the NFL’s career rushing yards list, but nonetheless pronounced his presence with 61 yards on nine carries. Kenyan Drake finished with 48 yards on 14 carries after 40 on his first six totes.
“Both of those guys made plays today,” receiver Kenny Stills said. “We look forward to blocking for them.”
Gore and Drake, who ended the preseason as co-starters on the Dolphins’ depth chart, were both on the field for the first offensive snap of the season Sunday. Drake ran the ball twice on the opening drive. Gore waited until the second possession for his first carry, which was a 10-yard run through a gaping hole. He picked up seven yards two plays later, and then barreled 21 yards on first-and-20 from the Titans’ 31 to set up Ryan Tannehill’s 10-yard touchdown strike to Stills.
“I feel like I can still play,” said the league’s oldest back, who now has 14,087 career yards. “Every time I got an opportunity, I tried to make it count.”
Steve Gorten contributed to this report.