Rex Ryan Benches David Clowney Over Twitter Complaint

After spending most of the Jets' Week 2 win over the Patriots on the bench, wide receiver David Clowney went straight to Twitter, tweeting just half an hour after the game that he was "disappointed about my playing time." Jets coach Rex Ryan (right) wasn't amused.

So when Ryan saw Clowney's tweet, he called Clowney into his office and informed him that he wouldn't be playing at all in Week 3.

It all started with this tweet written by Clowney at 4:41 PM on September 20:

1 play in the 1st Half, 4 plays in the 2nd half,.... A bit disappointed about my playing time but very happy and satisfied about the win.

That doesn't sound too bad -- it's not like Clowney ripped the coaches for keeping him on the bench. And Clowney's next two tweets both acknowledged that it's his own responsibility to make sure he plays more:

Just time to work harder for next week ... My team always comes first so I'ma just keep grinding,.. And we gonna keep winning

But while Clowney's tweets were far from the most controversial things an athlete has ever written on Twitter, Ryan still considered them a flagrant violation of team rules. So, Ryan benched Clowney for the Week 3 game against the Titans. The New York Post quotes Ryan:

"I'm not a big Twitter guy, but you hear different things. To me, it's about your team. No individual is bigger than the team. So if I feel a guy is not putting the team first, then I'll make the decision to put the guy down.

"I put David down. That was my decision. I wanted to see how David would respond. David had two options: He could have come out and been upset and pouted or he could come out and been a Jet, worked his tail off and showed me that he wants to do it our way.

"He did exactly that. He was phenomenal in preparation. I'll probably give him scout team player of the week."

Ryan said Clowney will be back on the field this week. But even if he spends most of the game on the bench, you can bet he won't tweet about it.

Do you think Ryan overreacted by benching Clowney? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

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New York Jets Photos

New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cothery grabs a long pass as Tennessee Titans Jason McCourty defends in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (Joe Rogate/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets Photos

Tennessee Titans Tony Brown pressures New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets QB quarterback Mark Sanchez fires a pass downfield against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (Joe Rogate/Newsday/MCT)

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Tennessee Titans Kerry Collins looks for an open receiver against the New York Jets in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets Shaun Ellis pressures Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets Ben Hartsock, right, celebrates with Tony Richardson, left, after his first quarter touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez scrambles for a first quarter touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez scores a first quarter touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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Tennessee Titans Chris Hope deflects the ball away from New York Jets Jerricho Cotchery during an NFL football game at Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 27, 2009. The Jets won 24-17. (David Pokress/Newsday/MCT)

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