Washington Redskins helmet. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington Redskins receiver Joshua Morgan felt the full downside of the social media age this week, receiving death threats and other venomous message on Twitter because of his fourth-quarter blunder in the loss to the St. Louis Rams.
Morgan talked Wednesday about the nastiness he’s heard from fans since his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing the ball at Cortland Finnegan. The penalty cost the Redskins valuable field position during the team’s final drive in Sunday’s 31-28 defeat.
“I heard everything, especially when they get you on Twitter and are sending you death threats and wishing you bad things and your firstborn,” Morgan said. “You see it all, you hear it all. You never let it get to you, especially with me being from D.C. They treated me kind of like they did (San Francisco 49ers return man) Kyle Williams last year when he dropped a punt against the Giants.”
Morgan said the threats are keeping him focused. He said he wasn’t tempted to discontinue his Twitter account.
“The only thing I take seriously is football and my family, and nothing really scares me,” he said.
Morgan said he’s been fined over the penalty but doesn’t yet know the amount. He also said he wouldn’t be throwing such a tantrum again. After all, raising the ire of fans is one thing, but getting a cold stare from the coaching staff is something else.
“Especially with coach Mike Shanahan,” he said, “none of us are dumb enough to make the same mistake twice.”
The Redskins play Cincinnati on Sunday.
