Herremans apologizes for 'homosexuality' tweet
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Herremans apologizes for 'homosexuality' tweet
Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Eagles guard Todd Herremans apologized on Twitter for an earlier "tweet" that referenced the HBO show "True Blood" and its "barrage of homosexuality."
"After speaking with Eagles management, I realize that my tweet earlier was insensitive and tasteless, and for this, I deeply apologize," Herremans wrote. "It was not my intention to offend or hurt anyone."
Herremans' original tweet, which was eventually deleted, went, "So.. caught up on Trueblood las nite.. Not a fan of how they get u hooked with the 1st 2 seasons then bring on a barrage of homesexuality."
Inquirer Page 2 columnist John Gonzalez, a follower of Herremans' on Twitter, asked if the guard wanted to apologize for his tweet.
Herremans responded: "I have no issues with homosesxuality, to each his/her own... Its just not for me.. #jussayin."
Herremans, a regular on Twitter, hasn't practiced thus far during training camp. He's on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a foot injury. Eagles coach Andy Reid has insisted the injury is a minor one, however.
MIKE BELL'S FRUSTRATION
Mike Bell has been down this road before.
The Eagles running back has a hamstring strain that has kept him out of practice for over a week, and it's not the first time that's happened to him during training camp. In fact, it's occurred in three straight camps.
"It happened to me last year. It happened the year before," said Bell, who played for the Saints the past two seasons. "Same hamstring. So it is frustrating. ... But I looked at it and I always come out on the other end. So there's no reason to let it frustrate me."
Still, Bell had an animated conversation with Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg a few days ago in which he did express his frustration. The two hugged it out and Bell said he didn't need any reassurance from the Eagles that he's still their backup tailback.
"They don't really have to say anything just because I've done such a great job," Bell said. "I don't really need any nobody reassuring me because I know what kind of confidence I have."
Bell said that he believe injuries dropped him from his coaches' good graces at his previous stops in New Orleans and Denver. He was able to take part in the early, non-contact portion of practice Tuesday. He said it's the most he's done since his injury and that he expects to be back very soon.
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
-- The following players missed Tuesday morning's practice and did not participate in outdoor conditioning: center Nick Cole (knee), wide receiver Hank Baskett (knee), cornerback Macho Harris (hamstring), defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (concussion) and kicker David Akers (foot contusion).
-- Cornelius Ingram (knee/calf) was a limited participant in practice. Center A.Q. Shipley (ankle) and defensive end Ricky Sapp (knee) returned. Wide receiver Kelley Washington had to be carted off the field for what he said were "cramps." Cornerback Ellis Hobbs took a few plays off for an unspecified reason.
PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS
-- The defensive play of the morning came when Brandon Graham tipped a Kevin Kolb screen pass and ran it back for a touchdown. Graham said he read the play based on Brent Celek’s block, and just tried to stay in front of the quarterback. The team doesn’t usually play through defensive run backs in drills – the coaches are typically just 15 or so yards behind the line of scrimmage – but Graham sped right past them, running like a kid who had just gotten away with something.
“That was a relief having one big play, because I haven’t really made too many plays other than sacks,” Graham said.
-- Offensive coordinator Mary Mornhinweg gave an incredible stat on Jason Avant: the slot receiver, as of about a day and a half ago, has caught around 80 passes in competitive training camp drills (seven-on-seven and 11-on-11) with zero drops.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever had a receiver that has had quite this type of camp as far as catching the ball,” Mornhinweg said.
-- The offensive line had mixed success stopping blitzes in 11-on-11 drills, showing some improvement on certain plays and allowing Kolb to make quick strikes to Celek and Avant, but letting rushers come free in other instances.
-- Ernie Sims rushed in and forced a throwaway (he thankfully pulled up before hitting Kolb, a tactic he has often failed to use in camp), and on another play DeSean Jackson had come open deep, but Kolb was scrambling and couldn’t find him. Jackson was visibly frustrated.
-- The offense looked much more competitive and sharp, though, than it had late last week, hinting the inconsistency that often shows in young teams.
“We’re so young and in some cases inexperienced, that it’s a little bit more up and down than a normal camp, but I do think we’re making excellent progress and certainly anticipated some of these ups and downs,” Mornhinweg said.
-- Juqua Parker showed great power in one-on-one blocking drills, pushing Winston Justice and then Stacy Andrews backward. Graham zoomed around Justice nearly untouched.
-- Jason Peter mauled Ricky Sapp and Max Jean-Gilles stopped Darryl Tapp.
-- Punter Ken Parrish got some work attempting field goals. David Akers does not appear to have much to worry about.
How long before it becomes mandatory that we watch Andy Reid take a seductively slow shower? You PC maniacs are insane! Now you can't hold an opinion that veers off course of the democratic national platform..?!??!?— Knarf Ozzir
who cares.... more non stories.... they had better stories during the offseason. training camp is in full swing. this is the best they can come up with. this p/c bullcrap and the maclin/t.o. jr. story. c'mon come up with something more topical.— kfoell- philly mike like b in dc says if he was black it wouldn't have mattered. for example the black actor isaiah washington lost his job on that tv series after similar comments and even after he (albeit halfheartedly) apologized— phillyfansrdumb
- What's the world coming to when you can't even make fun of homosexuals.— Aust42
Comment removed.- why is this a story? hmmm, could it be a quick attention grab by john gonzalez (by the way, JUAN gonzalez is "gonzo", i refuse to call this d-list blogger gonzo). there are so many things to report on at training camp and he chooses THIS? what a turd.— tboneee
- Non story.— Gino D.
- Wait, now we cannot mention that a tv program has homosexual content on it? Are you kidding me? Apologize? For what exactly? The politically correct knuckleheads (including John Gonzalez) swallows another. Nice.— stop2think
- by the way, if this could be one step towards the end of Twittering, political correctness, and Gonzo in the Inquirer, then some kid will have come from this nonsense.— jim715
- who cares what Todd Herremans or John Gonzalez says, really? that being said, if someone cant say what Herremans has said, we've slipped too far into political correctness. TOLERATING something doesnt mean you have to LIKE IT. If I say I don't like the sexual content on True Blood, is that offensive to those who do and i should apologize for it? If Todd had said "there is no way i could ever be homosexual" is THAT offensive? so, is the problem that everyone should have to like homosexual content in their entertainment, or that we simply cant say that we dont like homosexual content? stop the insanity..serenity now!— jim715
- What ever happen to free speech...— Beauty
- Who cares. I know quite a few gay people, and "just sayin" gay people are waaaaayyyyy to sensitive about everything! Who cares what he said. Gays have the right to speak their opinion, why can't he. He didn't even say anything hateful, he just didn't like it. I've heard gays say bad things about strait people, going far enough to call us breeders, which some people might find offensive, so why is that ok? For a group of people who want to have the freedom to do what they want, they sure are quick to take that right away from other people. Just sayin.— marquep22
So who actually was offended here? He shouldn't have to apologize for that. If you don't want to hear his tweets, then don't subscribe.- "out of curiousty, if they decided to introduce a significant amount of black people, latinos, or jewish people, and herremans tweeted his disdain for 'the barrage of black people,' 'the barrage of jews,' etc. would everyone who doesn't think his tweet was offensive have the same response?" Interesting pdipaolo. I thought the Herreman's comment was fine until you put it like that. But as devils advocate I could feel that something was too black or too Jewish if the show was magnifying every stero type and making the show strickly about that race or religion to the point that if I didn't think in that manner it would be impossible to watch. So now I'm torn again.— BentLogic
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- Repeat1stdown: Uh, I don't know what you're talking about, sir. I was mainly talking to the 2 or 3 posters who were making inane statements about whites getting "oppressed". I wasn't bashing all white people or anything like that.— JayDuce
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- I'm a black, somewhat conservative guy who thinks that Herremans didn't say anything offensive. I don't watch True Blood, but I ain't watching no gay stuff, either. Now, to these idiots who say "white men don't have free speech"...SHUT UP! A black Cleveland Brown said something similar the other day, but he had to retract his statement, too. Also, Tim Hardaway said he "hated gay people," and he hasn't been heard from, since. Lastly, the black guy from Grey's Anatomy said a gay slur, and he can't even star in a commercial (but Kramer was on Curb Your Enthusiasm after his foolishness). So spare me the "oppressed white man" garbage.— JayDuce
- Why does Herremans have a twitter account?— allen_jones
- The Eagles suck anyway and their fans are white trash. Who cares what this meat head says. Actually I think most Eagles fans are gay they just don't want to admit to themselves.— RightWingHypocrite
- Isn't Herremans the same dope who was busted for possessing pot during training camp last year?— p-diddy
- Hey Philly_Mike, why don't you enlighten us with your interpretation of "freedom of speech"?— veritas
- yeah he did nothing wrong. he made a comment and should have stuck to his guns. And I hate to tell all the left wing looneys but if you do not approve of homosexuality, it does not make you a hate monger. One cannot approve of homosexuality. It is all you liberals out there who are the bigots and racists and so disdain for the people that think differently than you.— tremo12
- There was nothing wrong with Todd's comment. He is entitled to his opinion, just like anyone else.— PhillyTru
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- The network can air the show, and if people are offended, the network need not apologize. But if Herremanns is offended, he's not entitled to his opinion and furthermore needs to apologize? Huh? What a great country. Terrorists can sneak across the border and even build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, but if you don't embrace deviant sexuality you need re-education?— dasher
- This comments section has been a barrage of stupidity.— carrot
- cliff lee would think this is nonsence
- Herremanns has been coached that sacks should be avoided at all costs.— dasher
- What would Blenda Gay think?— dasher
Todd Herremans, me thinks you doth protest too much. What's the difference if it's hidden in the closet or hidden in the locker? Some of my best friends are...- Menace.II.Sobriety oh and thats cause christian white males are homophobic racists. have a nice day! * I think christian white males have become the only group that can get ripped to shreds and called everything under the sun and they have no recourse. Any response makes them a hate filled bigot. The irony.— BIG_PHILLY
- He was being accurate. The episode had an inordinate amount of homosexual encounters last Sunday. Nothing inaccurate about it. Nothing wrong with it either. People have to start growing a few more layers of skin.— MBFlyerfan
- What did he say wrong?— BIG_PHILLY
- If it is OK for someone to jump up and say "I love gays!" it is equally OK to say "I prefer not to watch a show with too many gay references." I am a dude that personally doesn't like to see other dudes getting it on. That doesn't make me insensitive even if I tell other people about it. How insensitive of you to call me homophobic! But I can deal with that, too. Toughen up!— Bazalite
- I agree. There is a barrage of Homosexuality, what is wrong with saying that!!!— sawgrass
- Why does he have to apologize for being accurate?— AsValidAsYours
- BinDC and ricknettles, thank you for explaining to all the "free speech" bloviators what the concept of freedom of speech (i.e., protection against government infringement) really means. Kudos. That said, this is a non-story. A column about an insensitive remark made on Twitter by a football player? Is this where journalism has descended?— Dave14
- Maybe he should be more focused on recovering and less on tweeting. What makes these guys think we care about anything they have to say, go play football.— Donovan_Who?
- I hate Gonzo and Twitter..............In addition I prefer chicks and I prefer to watch tv with minimal homoerotics.......Please advise as to my offensivness.— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- WE should be ashamed of ourselves?
- wow, that's an insensitive remark? sounds like an opinion to me; since when aren't you allow to your opinion?
- KDH-Very well said!!!!!— Marchmadness
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- The way I see it, Gonzo is the bigger problem for planting the seed that something was inappropriate with the tweet than anything that Herremans wrote. Unreal.— KDH
- geez Todd, get on the field already. you are obviously very bored.
Herreman's been smoking some bad weed.— ej610- jgallo...I'm with you. I wasnt offended either. I only wonder why he thinks anybody cares what he watches on tv.— tdoc
- He's my new favorite Eagle! He did not say anything worth apologizing for. So the Gold Standard employs a convicted felon yet frowns on free speech? That makes sense...this new PC BS world makes me sick.— JohnnyN
- btw, @ricknettles, nicely said.— esesjay
- Why apologize for a statement that is neither inflamatory or incorrect. I am a gay man and I have no problem if someone finds something to have too much homosexuality for their taste. It is just an opinion I don't like NASCAR, what does that mean? It means I don't like NASCAR Stop reading more into things than is there— jgallo
- @Philly_Mike, yes, us poor oppressed white men... boo hoo. please, cut me a break...— esesjay
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- Come on Herremans grow a set. Why apologize? Last time I checked there was still free speech in America. If you are not entertained by homosexual-oriented material, that's your right.— teddyartboy
"After speaking with Eagles management..." Sounds like he was called to the principals office and they asked him to appologize. Do the Eagles spy on what their players "tweet"?? or is Gonzo a rat? embarrasing. This is another non news item out of Lehigh..
No one here has any idea what they are talking about when they mention 'free speech'. The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights states that CONGRESS shall make no law infringing on free speech. Herremans is allowed to say whatever he wants, however he has chosen a career in which, like it or not, he is always a public figure that represents his employer and subject to added scrutiny. Was his statement incredibly harmful? No. Bit it does show a certain insensitivity to a portion of society and a number of fans that pay his salary and shows a rather thin skin. Herremans is OK with vampires and werewolves, but bristles at homosexuals.- Nice comeback @Philly_Mike. And @Pugna, Freedom of Speech doesn't mean you can get away with saying whatever you want. It just means the government can't punish you for it. Government doesn't control what NFL teams can do to their players. The NFLPA and the CBA do, (for at least another couple of months).— B in DC
- out of curiousty, if they decided to introduce a significant amount of black people, latinos, or jewish people, and herremans tweeted his disdain for 'the barrage of black people,' 'the barrage of jews,' etc. would everyone who doesn't think his tweet was offensive have the same response?— pdipaolo
- Watched 1st season of TB, it wasn't bad (something different). Ever since I quit the show because it's stupid and frankly, awful TV. Gays in the show or not, it's awful. Herremans just needs to rehab and shut up. BTW, Twitter also sucks.— PhilCali
- I agree, nothing wrong with that tweet.— beefbr
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- oh and thats cause christian white males are homophobic racists. have a nice day!— Menace.II.Sobriety
- wow...this site is obviously leaning right wing. thought a guy named "gonzo" would be liberal. all the anti-gay stuff stays. most of the equal rights talk never gets published. ouch....way to give philly a bad name. we look like freaking idaho— Menace.II.Sobriety
Freedom of speech does not exist in the U.S. You can and will be ostracized for anything that could be interpreted as slightly offensive to any minority. If he had said anything that was offensive to a majority like a straight Christian white male it would have been the most popular "tweet" of the day.
Todd on the PUT list: physically unable to think. Shut up and rehab.- good call, chunkylover— NovaNation1024
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- I personally didn't see anything wrong with his tweet. That said, we live in a very PC world (for better or for worse) and sometimes even the most innocuous comment can come back to bite the rear end of the person who said it.(sigh)
- He did nothing wrong and is under no obligation to condone that lifestyle as normal, despite all the far left extremists constantly trying to force everyone too.— Jangocat
- the "barrage of homosexuality" is also why Todd plays Guard and not Center— ChunkyLover53
- you people should be ashamed of yourself— Menace.II.Sobriety
- dam, this site is slow as hell. i posted something 10 minutes ago still not up— Menace.II.Sobriety
- what was wrong with that tweet? it was an opinnion delivered very PC— Born_Green
- what was wrong with that tweet? it was an opinnion delivered very PC— Born_Green
- Herremans' comment didn't even make sense. I've watched the show from the beginning, and one of the main characters, Lafayette is gay, very gay, and has been since the inception of the show. Pretty silly. Besides, I don't recall any complaints from the homosexual community from the "barrage of heterosexuality" that's been present in the show since the beginning. and, yes, Philly_Mike's comment makes no sense, whatsoever. do people even think before they speak/type anymore?— jfd6812
- I don't watch the show. However, what, exactly, is offensive about the comment? There's a barrage of homosexuality at 12th and Walnut. So what?— Marchmadness
- @Philly_Mike - Do you think this would have been any different if he was black? You're an idiot.— B in DC
- Ridiculous PC nonsense. You can BOTH support gay rights AND not prefer to watch guys kissing on TV. The Eagles management has a lot of nerve after this Vick nonsense saying anything.— pgcd3
- He should have realized that no one cares about him and so not even set up a twitter account in the first place.— B in DC
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- That show just sucks anyway. No pun intended.— nmr82
- I don't think he needs to apologive at all. I agree with him 100% about True Blood. Todd is not the only one that feels this way - Go take a look at the True Blood blogs and fan message boards.— mikegdj
If only he'd ended the first message with "not there's anything wrong with that", he wouldn't have to apologize.— COskier
