The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly suspended safety Mike Mitchell from using social media after he lashed out at fans following the team's 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans in NFL action on Monday night.
The team has told Mitchell to stay away from social media indefinitely, according to CBS Pittsburgh, after he used Twitter to tell one fan "kill yourself," call another one "trash" and instruct a third to "die broke."
[seealso url = "http://sale-online.click/2012/11/09/twitter-sports-trolls/"]
Here are screenshots of direct messages Mitchell allegedly sent fans critical of his play against the Titans on Monday night.
First up, the "kill yourself" missive.
@937Giannotti @colin_dunlap @JColony13 mike Mitchell's response 2 me calling him the worst FA signing in team history pic.twitter.com/rXMCmpQoQt— tom kat (@Tomkatf14) November 18, 2014
Second up, this zinger.
GUYS MIKE MITCHELL DM'ED ME pic.twitter.com/88POBPS2Cw— mass (@ChrisMassey15) November 18, 2014
And finally, this gem.
@realtimwilliams pic.twitter.com/LUqL1TrrZF— Luke Carson (@LukeCarson_) November 18, 2014
The fan Mitchell called "trash" had, in fact, called Mitchell "trash" during Monday's game.
Really miss @Realrclark25 cause @MikeMitchell34 is trash— mass (@ChrisMassey15) November 18, 2014
The fan Mitchell told to "die broke" sent him this tweet during the game.
Fuck you. Leave Pittsburgh now @MikeMitchell34— Luke Carson (@LukeCarson_) November 18, 2014
An overreaction? Most certainly. But with the amount of vile, oftentimes profane abuse professional athletes are regularly subjected to on social media from fans, it's a wonder this kind of thing doesn't happen more often. The truth is it's hard to blame Mitchell or other pro athletes -- who also happen to be, you know, human beings -- from losing their cool every once in a while.
Mitchell's real mistake was his apparent assumption that his private messages wouldn't be screenshot, shared and turned into a News Item.
At least one of the fans Mitchell messaged didn't seem all that unhappy with the attention, however.
Made the news with my screenshot — mass (@ChrisMassey15) November 18, 2014