Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan said he received threatening messages on Twitter after committing a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during last Sunday’s loss at St. Louis.
Morgan said Wednesday he has seen the death threats but does not take them seriously or consider himself at risk.
“It’s all over my Twitter,” Morgan said. “They treated me like they did Kyle Williams last year.”
Williams, a wide receiver for the 49ers, received death threats after mishandling two punts during San Francisco’s loss to the New York Giants in last season’s NFC title game.
Morgan said he was fined by the NFL for the penalty but did not reveal the amount.
Morgan was penalized for throwing the ball at Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan after a play. The 15-yard penalty forced the Redskins to attempt a 62-yard field goal to tie the game. Placekicker Billy Cundiff missed and the Redskins lost, 31-28.
In profanity-laced messages on Twitter, people threatened to kill Morgan, urged him to kill himself and wished harm on his family members. One message expressed the hope that someone would throw a football at Morgan’s first-born child.
Asked whether he took the threats seriously, Morgan said no.
“The only thing I take seriously is football and my family,” Morgan said. “Nothing really scares me.”
Nevertheless, coach Mike Shanahan said the team is looking into the matter.
“We have security that takes care of those issues,” the coach said. “We’ll look at it and see if it’s serious or not.”
MORE HURT FOR HURD
Former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd faces more charges in the drug distribution case.
The indictment filed late Tuesday in Dallas charges Hurd with attempting to possess cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. He also faces two counts of committing a felony offense while on release.
The charges are connected with allegations that Hurd, who has played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears, tried to purchase drugs in June while on bond.
EXTRA POINTS
Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson’s divorce from reality TV star Evelyn Lozada was finalized in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a little more than a month after his arrest on a domestic battery charge, his lawyer said. Lozada accused him on Aug. 12 of head-butting her during an argument. … The Patriots signed tight end Kellen Winslow, who was released by the Seahawks on Sept. 1, and re-signed wide receiver Deion Branch, a former Seahawks player, to add depth to a pass-catching group that lost Aaron Hernandez to a right ankle injury. … The Jaguars have signed veteran tight end Maurice Stovall and released tight end Stephen Spach. … The Lions bolstered their depleted secondary, claiming cornerback Jerome Murphy off waivers from the Saints. … Needing help in their injury-riddled secondary, the Raiders signed cornerback Brandian Ross from Green Bay’s practice squad.
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