Watch CBS News

Shannon Sharpe Explains Why He's So Mean To Patriots Fans On Twitter

BOSTON (CBS) -- Shannon Sharpe may be a Hall of Famer, but he's not afraid to get into a Twitter spat or two with Bobby McPatriotsFan from Quincy from time to time.

Being that Sharpe played most of his career for the Broncos, these interactions ramped up over the past week, after Denver beat the Patriots last Sunday night.

Yowza!

Curious as to why Sharpe engages in these high-powered tweet beefs, Toucher & Rich welcomed Sharpe on to Wednesday's show to explain.

Sharpe said it basically comes down to this: If you can dish it, you better be able to take it.

"I don't have a problem with the Patriots. It's the fans. If you don't like someone, why jump in their mentions, say what you gotta say or create an account, and then vanish? If you don't like someone, don't follow 'em. It's simple," Sharpe said. "I don't respond to everything. But when I want to get a message out, they don't understand, I really could've been a comedian. No one writes my jokes for me, this is off the top of my head. So if you don't want me to say anything negative to you, don't jump on my mentions and say anything negative to me."

Sharpe seems to enjoy his role as Internet sheriff.

"I get me a bottle of water, I get me a sandwich, and I sit up on the bridge -- I start trolling," he said. "If that's the way you want to do it, that's what we can do. ... Don't jump on my mentions trying to attack me, because look, I can give it back just as good as you can give it."

As to people's responses that they are people who shouldn't be picked on, Sharpe said none of that comes into play when those people are sending the initial messages of insults.

"No, I'm not taking the high road,' Sharpe said. "Sometimes I'm not taking the high road. I'm going underground."

Sharpe also discussed how he's gotten out ahead of any insults thrown his way regarding his appearance.

While Sharpe noted that he'll never insult a man's looks, and that goes back to his playing days. Sharpe always found more success attacking a player's ability. However, he will get after a woman for her appearance when fighting on Twitter.

"That's the thing, people take their appearance, especially when you're dealing with guys on the football field, I ain't got time, yeah I could talk about such and such, but when you question a guy's ability," Sharpe said. "Now with women, appearance is everything to them, so when you get in a situation where you start talking about maybe the way they look or maybe the way they're dressed, they take that personally, and then OK, I'ma get you up off my mentions."

It was, to say the least, a fascinating discussion.

Listen to the full discussion below:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.