Darian Durant fined for inappropriate tweet to fan, but other fans support him
With the Saskatchewan Roughriders losing their last four games, plenty of Rider fans are blasting the team and its players, and quarterback Darian Durant elected to fire back at one on Twitter. He did so in a way that's going to lighten his pocketbook, though, swearing at a fan who criticized him Monday. Here's the (censored) exchange (Durant's since deleted his tweet, but it's preserved here):
The league was not amused, fining Durant Wednesday. Here's the CFL's statement on the matter:
The Canadian Football League announced today that it has fined Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant for violating the CFL’s Social Media Policy by sending an offensive and inappropriate tweet in response to a CFL fan.
As per league policy, the amounts of the fines are not disclosed.
What's interesting is that many Saskatchewan fans are taking Durant's side here, though, and some are even offering to raise money for his fine. Here are some of those responses:
@CFLDaily good that he did it! So sick of arm chair qbs myself! Good job @dariandurant proud you stood up for yourself #lovemydd
— Trisha Lane (@trishalikeapuma) October 2, 2013
@dariandurant hey bud. some people are jerks. I support you 100%.. I know what it's like to feel frustrated. keep playing hard! :) — Russ Germain (@cflisthebest) October 2, 2013
@dariandurant Just want to say good for you for putting that asshole tweeter in his place. You shouldn't have taken it down. KICKASS FRIDAY! — Chad Hall (@Hallzey77) October 2, 2013
I love @dariandurant for keeping it real!! #4 #favrider — Leanna Dormuth (@Tiggeroo815) October 2, 2013
@gridroad @dariandurant he is a human bring like everyone else, people need to be less uptight because he used a bad word
— Jason Powell (@SaskSneeze) October 2, 2013
U already got what U deserve @ZuckRightOff #Riders nor @dariandurant owe U a thing, not DD's fault, Say it 2 his face? #ArmChair #KnowItAll — Erin Found (@ErinFound) October 2, 2013
FU to the fan that reported @dariandurant to the league office on twitter. Chances are they deserved it. #cantholdamandown — J to the A (@JordanAstrope) October 2, 2013
@dariandurant Best thing you could have done. There is no point in being Mr. Nice Guy. 2 succeed in SK you have to blow past all these guys. — Richard Groulx (@TheJamSpace) October 2, 2013
Wasn't wise of @dariandurant to snap back at "fan" like that but can't blame him. How much crap can a guy take? Shut'em up on field Friday!
— Jeremy Gourlay (@JeremyGourlay) October 2, 2013
@dariandurant If there is a fund going around to pay the fine for you please let me know so I can donate to it, stay positive! — wayne reeve (@WayneReeve) October 2, 2013
@WayneReeve @Millz_50 @dariandurant where can we help donate?? Lets do it!! — Reid Stoll (@reidstoll) October 2, 2013
While Durant's response was clearly over the line, and the fine's deserved, it's understandable why he snapped. Lots of CFL players, and lots of Riders' players in particular, take endless criticism on social media, and it's tough to consistently turn the other cheek. Durant could have just ignored the tweet or could have responded in a less-offensive way, and he probably should have. He's made a mistake and paid the price, though, and it looks like plenty of fans are still going to be quite happy to support him. Now, if only he and the Riders could get back to winning games...