Miami Dolphins suspend defensive end indefinitely after bye week arrest

Sep 28, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Miami Dolphins defensive ends Olivier Vernon (50) and Derrick Shelby (79) react after the NFL International Series game against the Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium. The Dolphins defeated the Raiders 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Miami Dolphins defensive ends Olivier Vernon (50) and Derrick Shelby (79) react after the NFL International Series game against the Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium. The Dolphins defeated the Raiders 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

James Walker at ESPN reports that the Miami Dolphins have suspended defensive end Derrick Shelby indefinitely after Shelby’s arrest over the weekend for trespassing and resisting arrest without violence outside a Fort Lauderdale night club. Shelby pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges, but it appears the Dolphins will not wait to see how a trial unfolds before acting.

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The Miami Herald writes of Shelby’s arrest that, “police said Shelby was reportedly causing a disturbance at Off the Hookah, 111 SW Second Ave., about 2 a.m. Cops and security officers asked him to leave, but Shelby refused, according to police. He was arrested and booked on the two misdemeanor charges.”

It’s also worth noting that Shelby looks like he got a major league beating in his photo atop the Herald piece. Police say his resist was nonviolent which begs one to wonder where the violence came from then.

The Dolphins said as recently as Sunday that they wouldn’t do much about Shelby, releasing in a statement, “We are aware of the reports regarding Derrick Shelby and are in the process of gathering more information.”

Apparently the team gathered enough information to learn that Shelby’s role in Saturday night’s fracas was deep enough to warrant a suspension from the team.

This should come as no surprise to NFL fans given the verbal beating the league has taken for its disciplinary policies to date. Responses have been increasingly terse on players who break the law and things will only get tougher as commissioner Roger Goodell works with owners and experts to form new league policy on domestic violence and other such law-breaking behavior.

Derrick Shelby has been mostly a backup with the Dolphins since his arrival in 2012, which could mean he’s a perfect target for the team and the league to send a message without costing themselves a star player in the process a la the Carolina Panthers in their dealings with Greg Hardy.

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