Jones-Drew on tweet about Cutler: 'I didn't do anything wrong'

People who expect Maurice Jones-Drew to apologize for his tweet criticizing Jay Cutler's toughness will be disappointed.

Jones-Drew told NFL Network's Kara Henderson in an interview that aired Tuesday he doesn't regret his January post, which caused a backlash and even incited death threats from Chicago Bears fans who backed the team's quarterback.

"I haven't gotten a chance to, but I wouldn't apologize because I didn't do anything wrong, I don't think," said Jones-Drew, the Jacksonville Jaguars' two-time Pro Bowl running back. "I didn't commit a crime. I didn't kill anyone or rape anyone or anything like that. I mean, I stated my opinion, and it seems like you get more backlash for that than committing a real crime in some sense.

"I don't know, I don't feel I did anything wrong. I just said what everybody else was thinking at the time."

What Jones-Drew tweeted during the Jan. 23 NFC Championship Game was a direct shot at Cutler, who left with a knee injury in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

"Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now... When the going gets tough........QUIT," Jones-Drew posted on his Twitter page.

The nature of Cutler's injury was unknown during the game, but it later was revealed as a sprained medial collateral ligament. Even with that knowledge, Jones-Drew insists that he doesn't have any regrets.

"I don't regret anything I do," said Jones-Drew, who played through a knee injury of his own last season before missing the final two games. "I mean, you think about everything you put out there anyway. I'm not one of these guys who's going to say, 'Well, I shouldn't have done it,' because I did it. I mean, I knew what I was doing when I tweeted it. I just didn't know that many people were following me (on Twitter) at the time."

Jones-Drew might have led the way, but he wasn't the only player to criticize Cutler. Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals and Bruce Gradkowski, then of the Oakland Raiders, were some of the current and former NFL players who took shots at Cutler via Twitter.

Cutler has said he isn't bothered by what happened and appreciates how his teammates, most notably linebacker Brian Urlacher, came to his defense in the immediate aftermath of the Bears' 21-14 loss.

"That's all new," Cutler said last month when he reported to training camp. "That's never been an issue for me. I've never been questioned about it. I didn't really know how to react to it. I know that anyone who has played with knee (injuries) should never question that. I know the guys in the locker room aren't going to. You can't get caught up in that stuff. ... You're going to have to take it as it is and move on."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tweet this: Tuck criticizes McCoy for online stab at Umenyiora

LeSean McCoy might regret his twit-icism of Osi Umenyiora. The New York Giants certainly seem unlikely to forget about it when they see McCoy and his Philadelphia Eagles this season.

Justin Tuck became the latest Giant to defend his teammate, saying the team will take McCoy calling Umenyiora "soft" personally when they play Sept. 25 and Nov. 20 and adding that Twitter "has made people cowards."

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"Two things: One, yes we will take that personally, and two, he might want to watch some film before he starts talking about a defensive end of Osi's quality," Tuck said Wednesday on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning," according to SportsRadioInterviews.com. "I don't know where he would say something of that nature because honestly I think Osi's stats back up the fact that he is a pretty good NFL football player."

Umenyiora's stats are pretty good. He posted 11.5 sacks last season and has 60 in his career. He also has been selected to two Pro Bowls, after the 2005 and 2007 seasons.

McCoy started the feud June 16 when he responded to a story about Umenyiora wanting a new contract by tweeting: "Overrated n soft 3rd best d-line on his team honestly." That didn't sit well with Umenyiora, who called McCoy names, including a Chihuahua, a poodle, a little girl, a Twitter gangster, Lady Gaga and a woman, according to Philly.com. Giants wide receiver Steve Smith rushed to his teammate's defense by noting that his team has won a Super Bowl and the Eagles have not.

Tuck's biggest issue with the whole situation is that McCoy used Twitter to criticize Umenyiora.

"I honestly think social media makes people cowards," Tuck said. "Where I'm from, if you have a problem with somebody, you say it to their face, and that was it. I think now people are hiding behind computers and smart phones to get out something that they got on their chest. ...

"I don't know what's gotten into these young guys, but, I mean, it is what it is. I think Osi handled it the right way, and we'll handle it on the football field when we get an opportunity."

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TO admits breaking NFL Tweet rule, says it was for good cause

CINCINNATI -- Terrell Owens acknowledged Tuesday night that he violated the NFL's rules against Tweeting shortly before games by sending one out an hour before a loss to Tampa Bay.

His defense? It was for a good cause.

The Bengals receiver said on the first episode of a new cable television show Tuesday night that he won't object if the NFL fines him for breaking the rules. Coaches and players are prohibited from using social networks 90 minutes before a game, during a game and shortly afterward.

The policy went into effect before last season. The only one to violate it until Sunday had been teammate Chad Ochocinco, who was fined $25,000 for Tweeting shortly before and during a preseason game in August.

Owens' Tweet was one of the subjects on the first episode of "The T.Ocho Show" on the Versus cable network.

"If I get fined for it, then that's cool," Owens said.

An NFL spokesman said the league was looking into it but had no announcement Tuesday.

An hour before a 24-21 loss to Tampa Bay, the receiver sent a Tweet from Paul Brown Stadium that he said was part of his work with a charity that helps children in Kenya.

"A lucky fan wearing my jersey 2day will get a signed football by Me & Ocho Cinco! My asst will pick U out!! Good luck!" he Tweeted.

Owens said he intended to post the Tweet earlier in the day, but he left his home late and forgot to take his cell phone with him. He said he had an assistant bring his cell phone to Paul Brown Stadium.

"I got the Tweet out a little late," he said.

The Bengals were on the field warming up when the Tweet was posted.

Twitter and other social-networking sites have become popular with NFL players. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis also has a policy against players using social-network sites while they're at the stadium.

Kevin Frazier, the moderator of the receivers' new show, introduced the Tweet segment by saying: "That was wrong, and I'm not making excuses for you," then gave Owens a chance to explain. Owens indicated he expects a fine from the league.

"It's not going to be the first thing that goes unappreciated for some of the noble things and charitable things that I do," Owens said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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