Vince Wilfork Takes Aim At Ted Johnson After Johnson Calls Wilfork's Wife Ugly
BOSTON (CBS) -- There are certain things that should always be off limits for conversations, especially in public forums, and former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson is learning that today.
Johnson, now a sports radio host in Houston, was participating in a segment called "None Of Your Business." Johnson was asked by a caller to say which of his former teammates had the "ugliest spouse." The website Houston Media Watch captured the audio and posted the segment online.
"Oh, my gosh. All right, you know what? I got it. Yeah, I got it. This is a big, big man," Johnson said. "He won't hear this -- Vince Wilfork."
Well, Johnson's presumption proved true, but only temporarily, as the audio clip made its way around Twitter on Friday morning. And apparently, Wilfork caught wind of the comments, because he tweeted out a warning shot.
"Let me apologize to my fans in advance of whatever I may say today," Wilfork tweeted, "but I do not play when it comes to my family."
Wilfork's previous tweet was directed at @TedJ52, Johnson's Twitter account, according to his bio on the Sports Radio 610 site.
"[You're] barking up the wrong tree," Wilfork wrote to Johnson. "I hear and see everything [expletive]."
Later, Wilfork posted a note he wrote on his iPhone to Twitter and directed it at Johnson. It read (edited for clarity):
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it is [messed] up when an ex-teammate that I actually looked up to and enjoyed playing with takes shots at my wife for whatever reasons. I love my wife and my family. She is my everything. I don't care when this was said -- no one should cross that line. The line has been crossed so it is what it is. All I wanna say is [expletive] you! You don't want to [expletive] with me or my family. Take shots at me all day but not them. I have a great family life and [am] blessed to have them."
Johnson tweeted out an apology later Friday morning.
"I just made a huge error in judgement and want to apologize to Vince and his wife for comments I made earlier today on a Houston radio show," @TedJ52 tweeted. "Vince and his family are outstanding people who I have admired since they arrived in [New England]. I learned a big lesson today and feel terrible."
Johnson later added: "I have personally apologized to the family and feel awful. It was a huge error in judgment and I'm sorry for upsetting Vince's family. The last thing I will say about this is that I understand the criticism [and] will own my poor decision."
Wilfork and Johnson were teammates in 2004, when Wilfork was a rookie and Johnson was in his final season in the NFL.
Wilfork met his wife, Bianca, when he was a freshman at the University of Miami.
Bianca did not tweet during the whole mess, but later did take to the social networking site.
"Thanks [for] all the great tweets," she tweeted from her account, @mrs75. "I know u guys are waiting for me to go off but I'm good trust me I love me and I love that my husband loves me."
She also posted a picture on her Instagram account with the following message: "In this day and age, people forget to realize it's not about looks, weight, money or status. My relationship with my husband of nine years and together for 12 is about being real, being in love, building each other up and having each other's back. Those things can't be measured ... or valued by looks or money. Those things shine in the darkest times and relish in the best."
