MIAMI, May 12 (UPI) -- Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was ordered to pay a fine due to his reaction on Twitter to Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend on television after learning he would been drafted to play for the St. Louis Rams.
Sam, who came out in February just before the NFL combine, became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL last week.
Upon his selection, the ecstatic Sam turned to his boyfriend and kissed him while ESPN's cameras were rolling. The footage aired on television and some were not too supportive, including Jones.
In a since-deleted tweet, Jones wrote "OMG." When a fan asked if the tweet was regarding the Sam kiss, he responded with "horrible."
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The Dolphins ordered Jones to pay an undisclosed fine and have banned him from team activities until he completes "training for his recent comments made on social media."
"We met with Don today about respect, discrimination and judgment," the Dolphins said in a statement Sunday. "These comments are not consistent with the values and standards of our program."
Jones issued a statement apologizing for his comments:
"I want to apologize to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments that I made last night on social media," he said. "I take full responsibility for them and I regret that these tweets took away from his draft moment. I remember last year when I was drafted in the seventh round and all of the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team and I wish him all the best in his NFL career."
