Browns cut safety Whitehead after social media rant
Jermaine Whitehead’s disturbing social media rant cost him his job.
The Cleveland Browns cut the former Green Bay Packers safety Monday, hours after the team reprimanded Whitehead for “totally unacceptable and highly inappropriate” posts following a 24-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Whitehead made several threatening and expletive-laden posts on Twitter while still in uniform following Cleveland’s fourth straight loss. One of Whitehead’s tweets was directed at Dustin Fox, a former NFL player who works for the team’s radio network. Fox had sent an earlier tweet criticizing Whitehead’s tackling.
Twitter suspended Whitehead’s account and the team released a statement after it became aware of his postings.
“Jermaine Whitehead’s social media posts following today’s game were totally unacceptable and highly inappropriate,” the Browns said in a statement. “We immediately spoke with Jermaine upon learning of these comments. The Browns in no way condone that type of language or behavior. This matter will be further addressed internally.”
Whitehead’s tweets included several expletives and in one he used a derogatory racial term.
The 26-year-old player started the game in place of safety Damarious Randall, who missed his second straight game because of a hamstring injury. Whitehead missed tackles on two big plays by the Broncos.
He declined an interview request following the game.
Safety Morgan Burnett was Whitehead’s teammate for two seasons in Green Bay before both joined the Browns. Burnett was sorry to see Whitehead released.
“We’re going to miss him because that was a guy that played a lot of snaps for us, a guy that was a good teammate in the locker room. I just feel like it was a situation where his emotions got the best of him,” Burnett said.
Whitehead was cut by the Packers last year after getting ejected for taking a swing at New England Patriots center David Andrews.
Miami running back suspended: Miami Dolphins running back Mark Walton has been suspended without pay for the next four games for violating NFL conduct and substance abuse policies.
Walton was arrested three times last offseason in his hometown of Miami, which prompted the suspension.
Walton was sentenced in August to six months’ probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor weapons charge. Other charges, including marijuana possession and reckless driving, were dismissed.
Winslow takes plea deal: Former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. pleaded guilty to raping an unconscious teen and sexual battery involving a 54-yearold hitchhiker.
Winslow, 36, entered the pleas as he was about to be retried on two rape allegations in San Diego County Superior Court.
In exchange for his plea, the court agreed to sentence him to between 12 and 18 years in prison. He had faced life in prison if convicted of rape on multiple counts in the retrial.