Cleveland Browns RB Posts Picture of Jihadi John-Like Character Slashing Cop’s Throat

A Cleveland Browns running back posted an image on social media of a masked man slashing the throat of a police officer.

“They give polices all types of weapons and they continually try to kill us,” third-year running back Isaiah Crowell captioned the gruesome art work. Crowell posted the ugly image after police shot and killed black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, the latter unarmed during a traffic stop.

Crowell subsequently deleted the post and apologized.

“Last week was an emotional and difficult week as we saw extreme acts of violence against black men across our country as well as against police officers in Dallas,” Crowell tweeted. “I posted an image to Instagram in the midst of that emotion that I shouldn’t have and immediately removed it. It was an extremely poor decision and I apologize for that mistake and for offending people.”

Though Crowell posted the menacing image last week, it went unnoticed in the national media until Monday. In contrast, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman tweeted a message of support for Dallas law enforcement that drew criticism at the Huffington Post and outrage in the darkest recesses of the internet. The quarterback’s controversial post? “Sadly most police departments around the country don’t feel much support these days. #backtheblue.”

Crowell rushed for 706 yards and four touchdowns for the Browns last season. He competed in college for the University of Georgia before a weapons charge led to his dismissal from the team and transfer to Alabama State.

“I am outraged and upset by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile along with so many others,” Crowell wrote in his apology. “I am also outraged and saddened by the attacks in Dallas and the deaths of the 5 honorable police officers (Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarripa) who were providing protection while trying to keep peace. We have to be better as a society, it’s not about color, it’s about what’s right and wrong. I was very wrong in posting that image. Every single life matters, every death as a result of violence should be treated with equal outrage and penalty.”