Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell has been getting drilled over a graphic image he shared on social media — a disturbing illustration that depicts a hooded man slitting a police officer’s throat.
The NFL player has since apologized and removed his post, but the Internet archived it — as the web does. And many of its users are up in arms over the tasteless drawing, which is posted towards the bottom of this story.
Here’s a small sampling of offended Twitter reactions:
.@Browns RB Isaiah Crowell posted a picture of a police officer having his throat slit. Who else thinks he should be removed from the team?
— DawgPoundNation.net (@DawgPoundNation) July 11, 2016
.@Browns must fire #IsaiahCrowell ASAP, and @NFL must ban him for life.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) July 11, 2016
I'm calling for the @Browns to do the right thing & cut Isaiah Crowell. The image he posted on Instagram was wrong & unacceptable #Browns
— Dino Vitanza (@dsergiov) July 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/MaryKayCabot1/status/752596772409618432
The NFL was more measured in an official response to the post. “The image was inappropriate and insensitive,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told TheWrap via email. “He realized this, took down the post and has since apologized.”
The Browns’ reaction was harsher, however, calling the post “extremely disturbing,” “unacceptable” and “inappropriate.”
Here’s the club’s full statement: “We have spoken to Isaiah regarding his extremely disturbing and unacceptable social media decision. It was completely inappropriate and we have made him aware of our high level of disappointment. Isaiah has apologized but also knows that just an apology is insufficient and that he must take steps to make a positive difference after a very negative and impactful post.”
According to to Cleveland.com, Crowell’s post went live after two African-American men — Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — were fatally shot by police, but before five police officers were killed in Dallas on Thursday night.
After playing college football for Georgia and Alabama State, Crowell was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Browns in 2014.
Here’s a screenshot of the image in question:
And here’s Crowell’s mea culpa:
https://twitter.com/IsaiahCrowell34/status/752618868359692288