Sep 23, 2009 1:48 pm US/Eastern
Will NFL Bring Down Hammer After Insulting Tweets?
Redskins Player Apologizes After Calling Fans 'Dim Wits,' Making Fun Of McDonald's Employees On Twitter
Star Receiver Apologizes After His Brother Rips Team's Quarterback
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The battle between the NFL and its many players who use Twitter to reach out to fans may grow even uglier after a Washington Redskins player used his Twitter account to lash out against the fans this week, and the brother of Arizona Cardinals' star receiver Larry Fitzgerald used his account to criticize the team's quarterback.
Redskins rookie linebacker Robert Henson deleted his account and apologized for calling Redskins fans who booed the team following their win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday "dim wits," among other choice insults, but the damage has been done.
"All you fake half hearted Skins fan can . . . I won't go there, but I dislike you very strongly, don't come to Fed Ex to boo dim wits!!"
Later, after fans who followed Henson began criticizing him for his comments,
according to an ESPN blog, he responded with a barrage of tweets that read:
"No I didn't play but I still made more than you in a year and you'd (gladly) switch spots with me in a second. … I was talking to the fans (who) said the crazy stuff, I'm use (to heckling) but I've never been booed in my own stadium. Again, that was for the half hearted but if everyone wants to jump in, come on. The question is who are you to say you know what's best for the team, and you work 9 to 5 at Mcdonalds [sic]. You don't wanna follow me anymore, then fine but we play for you and win lose or draw, we represent you!! My guy on the Rams said they never got booed even when they didn't win a game."
Henson apologized Monday during a brief session with reporters.
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A Redskins spokesman said Henson took down the Twitter account on his own and was not ordered to do so by the team.
On Wednesday, Fitzgerald apologized after his brother Marcus sent out tweets ripping quarterback Kurt Warner, calling him an "old man" and saying the receiver was "pissed" after finishing Sunday's game with just 34 yards and four catches.
The NFL has already set a Twitter policy in place, prohibiting players, coaches, and team personnel from sending out tweets 90 minutes before a game until the conclusion of media interviews following a game.
It's possible the league could set an entirely new policy thanks to Henson's rants alone, but there's no word whether any such proposals are being mulled.
Henson, a sixth-round draft pick, has yet to play this season.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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