on hold.Hours after The Associated Press reported that Miami Dolphins players who protest on the field during the anthem could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued this week Larry Csonka Jersey , the league and the players union issued a joint statement late Thursday night saying the two sides are talking things out.”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 statement read. ”The NFL and NFLPA reflect the great values of America, which are repeatedly demonstrated by the many players doing extraordinary work in communities across our country to promote equality, fairness and justice. Our shared focus will remain on finding a solution to the anthem issue through mutual, good faith commitments, outside of litigation.”The issue has dominated headlines over the past two seasons, caused division and alienated some fans.The NFL rule that was passed in May forbid players from sitting or taking a knee if they are on the field or sidelines during ”The Star-Spangled Banner,” but allowed them to stay in the locker room if they wish. The policy said teams would be fined if players didn’t stand during the anthem while on the field. The league left it up to teams on how to punish players.None of the team policies had been made public until the AP obtained a copy of Miami’s nine-page discipline document. It included a one-sentence section on ”Proper Anthem Conduct” and was provided to the AP 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.The Dolphins said in a statement: ”The NFL required each team to submit their rules regarding the anthem before their players reported to training camp. We will address this issue once the season starts. All options are still open.”Miami can choose not to issue any suspension nor fine any player guilty of ”conduct detrimental to the club.” Other violations under that label include drug use or possession, gambling, breaking curfew and riding motorcycles as a driver or passenger from the start of camp until the last game of the season.Jets acting owner Christopher Johnson said shortly after the league announced its policy that he will not punish his players for any peaceful protests – and would pay any potential fines incurred by the team as a result of his players’ actions.The new league rules were challenged this month in a grievance by the players union. The NFLPA said the NFL policy, which the league imposed without consultation with the players union, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights. Now, the two sides are hoping to reach a solution without litigation.Dolphins veteran receiver Kenny Stills took a knee with a hand on his heart during the anthem throughout last season. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips put his arm around Stills before one game. Two other players who knelt – safety Michael Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas – are no longer with the team.Defensive end Robert Quinn, who raised his fist during the anthem while with the Rams, is now with the Dolphins.”Players who are on the field during the Anthem performance must stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem Dan Marino Jersey ,” says the 16th and final bullet point on Miami’s list of conduct considered detrimental, below disparaging teammates, coaches or officials including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009 – the year it signed a marketing deal with the military.In 2016, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting police brutality, social injustice and racial inequality by kneeling during the national anthem, and the demonstration spread to other players and teams.Critics led by President Donald Trump called the players unpatriotic and even said NFL owners should fire any player who refused to stand during the anthem. Some players countered that their actions were being misconstrued and that they are seeking social change rather than protesting the anthem itself.Trump’s criticism led more than 200 players to protest during one weekend, and some kept it up throughout the season.The league and a coalition of players have been working in tandem to support player initiatives for a variety of social issues. The NFL is committing $90 million over the next seven years to social justice causes in a three-segment plan that involves league players.Kaepernick didn’t play at all last season and still hasn’t been picked up by another team. He threw 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions in his final season in 2016. Safety Eric Reid, one of Kaepernick’s former teammates and another protest leader, is also out of work.Both have filed collusion grievances against the NFL.—AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Miami, AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak in New York and AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner in New York contributed to this report.— The Miami Dolphins are focusing on the 2019 season, starting to develop their plan for the offseason including free agency and the NFL Draft. While the team is now stuck waiting until after the Super Bowl to hire New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores as the tenth full-time head coach in Dolphins history, that does not stop the preparations from general manager Chris Grier and the rest of the front office.The Dolphins head into the offseason with the fifth-lowest amount of salary cap space in the league, but they have a clear method to quickly create cap space if they choose. Using numbers from OverTheCap.com, Miami currently is $14.0 million under the projected 2019 base cap of $190 million. The only teams with less space than Miami are the Philadelphia Eagles ($14.5 million over the cap), Jacksonville Jaguars ($3.53 million over the cap), Minnesota Vikings ($6.65 million under the cap), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($12.2 million under the cap). At the other end of the spectrum, the Indianapolis Colts have the most cap space, with $117.4 million in space, followed by the New York Jets ($93.8 million in space) Bob Griese Jersey , Buffalo Bills ($83.9 million in space), Cleveland Browns ($82.5 million in space), and the Oakland Raiders ($71.1 million in space). The league rules for the offseason changes how spending against the salary cap is accounted. During the season, every dollar the team spends on a player’s base salary plus bonuses, as well as the salary of the practice squad, are a part of the cap. During the preseason, training camp, and preseason, the league only accounts for the top 51 salaries for each team. That does not impact the Dolphins right now, as they only have 49 players under contract for 2019, but it will come into play as players are re-signed or once free agency begins.Dolphins 2019 roster (49 players): Ryan Tannehill - $26.6 millionReshad Jones - $17.2 millionRobert Quinn- $12.9 millionKenny Stills - $9.75 millionDeVante Parker - $9.39 millionAndre Branch - $9.00 millionAlbert Wilson - $8.33 millionKiko Alonso - $8.27 millionJosh Sitton - $7.00 millionBobby McCain - $6.34 millionT.J. McDonald - $6.00 millionDanny Amendola - $6.00 millionLaremy Tunsil - $3.96 millionMinkah Fitzpatrick - $3.74 millionCharles Harris - $2.96 millionAkeem Spence - $2.50 millionDaniel Kilgore - $2.40 millionTed Larsen - $2.29 millionXavien Howard - $1.95 millionMike Gesicki - $1.50 millionWalt AIkens - $1.40 millionRaekwon McMillan - $1.28 millionNick O’Leary - $1.1 millionKenyan Drake - $1.02 millionJerome Baker - $897,800Cordrea Tankersley - $849,572Brice Butler - $805,000Jakeem Grant - $755,095Durham Smythe - $728,058Kalen Ballage - $717,295Davon Godchaux - $695,487Vincent Taylor - $683,607Chase Allen - $648,334Torry McTyer - $647 Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey ,500Matt Haack - $646,334James Burgess - $645,000Cornell Armstrong - $599,602Jason Sanders - $592,800Jeremiah Valoaga - $570,000Isaiah Ford - $570,000Luke Falk - $570,000Jalen Davis - $570,000Jamiyus Pittman - $570,000Quentin Poling - $495,000Kendrick Norton - $495,000Connor Hilland - $495,000Chris Lammons - $495,000Sam Eguavoen - $495,000Also factored into the salary cap number for each team is their “dead money.” This pool of money is bonuses already paid or guaranteed base salary in a contract for a player who is released from the roster. This money can come from a player released this year, or after June 1, it can be spread over the current year and the next season. The Dolphins already have three players counting against the 2019 salary cap due to dead money, including the second-half of Ndamukong Suh’s huge dead money number from last year. Dead Money:Ndamukong Suh - $13.1 millionLeonte Carroo - $175,097Isaac Asiata - $130,400The Dolphins could release players to add to the cap space. This could create dead money if there are still guarantees or signing bonus money which needs to be accounted for in the cap Kenny Stills Jersey , but it would also provide some cap relief for Miami as well.Potential cap cuts (cap savings at least $1 million):Ryan Tannehill - Cap savings: $13.2 million; Dead money: $13.4 millionRobert Quinn - Cap savings: $12.9 million; Dead money: $0Kenny Stills - Cap savings: $4.25 million; Dead money: $5.5 millionDeVante Parker - Cap savings: $9.39 million; Dead money: $0Andre Branch - Cap savings: $7.00 million; Dead money: $2.00 millionKiko Alonso - Cap savings: $4.75 million; Dead money: $3.53 millionJosh Sitton - Cap savings: $5.00 million; Dead money: $2.00 millionDanny Amendola - Cap savings: $6.00 million; Dead money: $0Akeem Spence - Cap savings: $2.50 million; Dead money: $0Daniel Kilgore - Cap savings: $2.40 million; Dead money: $0Ted Larsen - Cap savings: $1.88 million; Dead money: $416,668Xavien Howard - Cap savings: $1.29 million; Dead money: $664,189Walt AIkens - Cap savings: $1.40 million; Dead money: $0Nick O’Leary - Cap savings: $1.00 million; Dead money: $100,000Quarterback Ryan Tannehill could be designated a post-June 1st cut, which would spread his dead money over two years. The Dolphins would not see the relief from the cap until June 2, but it would allow him to be off the roster prior to any bonuses he could have triggered into his contract as well. If the Dolphins use the post-June 1 cut option, they would see $18.75 million in cap space created this year, with $7.86 million in dead money this year, then another $5.56 million in 2020. A post June-1 cut could also be used on Reshad Jones, who would create $15.2 million in dead money this year, with a $2 million in cap space, with another $8.09 million in dead money in 2020 - a scenario not likely to be used, but one which could provide some cap space if Miami becomes desperate at some point this year. The Dolphins will have several decisions to make as Flores comes to the team and the front office begins making their first moves for the offseason. There is money to be had for the Dolphins, but every cut also means they have to sign someone to re-fill that spot on the roster. This also does not account for players like Cameron Wake, William Hayes, Ja’Wuan James, Frank Gore, MarQueis Gray, John Denney, David Fales Reshad Jones Jersey , Brandon Bolden, Travis Swanson, Mike Hull, Leonte Carroo, A.J. Derby, Isaac Asiata, and Jesse Davis who are among the team’s soon-to-be free agents as their contracts expire in March. Miami could look to re-sign some or all of those players, potentially using some of the cap space they create. If the Dolphins were to make all of the moves above - releasing all the players straight out without using the post-June 1 cut - Miami would gain nearly $73 million in cap space. They could also re-work contracts and find other ways to create space - including the $5 million in additional space designating Tannehill as a post-June 1 cut - which could push them toward the $100 million in cap space mark. But, again, every cut means another player they need to sign.Miami seems to be focused primarily no building through the draft and looking toward the long term health of the franchise rather than the win-now, free-agency focused team they were over the past several years. If that is truly the case, they will not be looking for big-name free agents to sign, which means they can save some of their cap space this year, rolling it into 2020, or beyond, so they can eventually find the one piece that completes the rebuild they are starting. The Dolphins’ salary cap situation is not pretty, but it is not a complete mess either. Yes, they are going to have to spend a year resetting it, but it appears that the team can quickly rebound.
