Dolphins indefinitely suspend DL Shelby after Saturday arrest
Miami Dolphins reserve defensive lineman Derrick Shelby was suspended indefinitely after police used a Taser on him three times while arresting him on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and trespassing at a nightclub.
Shelby was suspended hours before Monday's practice for conduct detrimental to the team. Coach Joe Philbin said he talked with Shelby, and said the Dolphins will gather more information before making a final determination on disciplinary action.
According to a Fort Lauderdale police report, nightclub security said Shelby was touching women without their permission early Saturday. Shelby appeared intoxicated, was ordered to leave several times by an officer and refused, the report said.
When officers tried to place the 6-foot-2, 282-pound Shelby in custody, he pushed away and took an aggressive fighting stance. He was placed on the ground and continued to resist, and officers used a Taser before he was subdued.
A mug shot showed Shelby with a swollen lower lip and a bruise on his cheek. He was released from jail on a $100 bond and entered a plea of not guilty.
"We're still gathering information," Philbin said after practice Monday. "I feel like from the information I have at the present time, I took the appropriate action and suspended him indefinitely."
Shelby's agent, David Canter, released a statement saying he was disappointed by the Dolphins' decision to suspend to his client.
Defensive end Jared Odrick, a friend of Shelby's, said he was surprised to learn of the arrest.
"I thought it was like The Onion news reporting it, thinking it was fake, because he's such a smart guy," Odrick said. "He loves his job and working hard and setting a standard with the team. So it was shocking."
Odrick said he took no issue with the suspension. But Odrick said he, Shelby and other black players face special challenges regarding their conduct in public.
"The thing we're reminded of as professional athletes and black men is we're targets more than anybody else walking down the street," Odrick said. "We're targeted sometimes, and we have to understand we have to uphold standards and society's rules more than a regular passer-by. We have to set the example."
Shelby, a third-year veteran, has played in all four games as a reserve this season. The Dolphins had a bye last weekend, and players were off Thursday through Sunday. Miami plays Green Bay on Sunday.
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