After a tough loss this week, Robert Henson an inactive rookie from the Washington Redskins, tweeted “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!!”
He also wrote: “The question is who are you to say you know what’s best for the team and you work 9 to 5 at Mcdonalds.”
Understandably the team, management and veteran players were upset with him. Beyond the fact that he’s entirely wrong in this situation. Fans pay good money to watch a team and part of attending a game is the opportunity to boo or cheer even if it is your home team.
Again this is a situation of someone who is new to the public eye and making a comment that they would never send out through their press agent but don’t realize that their Twitter account is just or even more powerful than a press release.
The NFL and players association should encourage all players to embrace social media. Obviously not to participate in posting updates during team functions or anywhere that talking on a cell phone would be inappropriate. Fans continue to crave an inside perspective and Twitter provides a direct conduit from fans to players.
The NFL should immediately layout clear guidelines in regards to social media beyond their initial list of rules. Fines should be levied against those who break the rules. The NFL rookie symposium should dedicate at least a good 2-3 hours covering this but the NFL shouldn’t be scared of Twitter, they just need to learn how to make it work for them or this won’t be the last time we hear of this issue.
***UPDATE***
Robert Henson has not reacted by quitting Twitter. Maybe he couldn’t handle all the negative @replies but now he’s gone and cut the lifeline that would have also been his best way to redemption. Well done Mr. Henson.
***UPDATE II***
Busy day for NFL players and Twitter. Larry Fitzgerald’s brother is complaining via Twitter that Kurt Warner sucks.
