Dolphins reinstate Derrick Shelby

According to a report from Pro Football Talk, the Miami Dolphins had reinstated defensive lineman Derrick Shelby a week after suspending him. Shelby was suspended by the team after being arrested at Cyn Nightclub (formerly Off the Hookah) in Fort Lauderdale.

Shelby was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest without violence on Saturday, October 4, after reportedly causing a disturbance at the club at around 2am. The Dolphins were on their bye week over that weekend. Details of the "disturbance" from the police report allege Shelby touched two women on their buttocks without their permission. He was then asked to leave the club and refused. When the police arrived he was escorted out to the parking lot, where he again refused to leave. After locking his arms so the police could not handcuff him, Shelby was tased three times, leaving him with a bruised cheek and a swollen, bloody lip as was seen in his mugshot.

The Dolphins acted quickly in suspending Shelby for conduct detrimental to the team. The "indefinite" suspension, however, appears to have lasted one week, and cost Shelby one game check. Based on his $480,000 base salary, that game check was worth $30,000.

PFT's report indicates the NFL Players Association may have worked behind the scenes to get the suspension lifted while Shelby's case works through the legal process. According to PFT, one of the NFLPA's complaints may have been that personal-conduct violations are to be handled at the NFL level, not the team level. The union could also look to have Shelby receive his game check, using the recent Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy cases as precedent, as both played have been played on the commissioner's exempt list and are not allowed to be around the team as their respective cases work through the legal process, but both players are still being paid.

Whenever the reactivation of Shelby is official, the Dolphins will have to make a corresponding roster move to free a space under the 53-man limit. Miami faces the Chicago Bears this weekend.

UPDATE: The Dolphins placed running back Knowshon Moreno on injured reserve, freeing up the roster spot needed for Shelby.