Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has reined in the team's "social media usage after consulting with some of the veteran players,” and the Twitter ban “will last at least through training camp,” according to Joe Reedy of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. When asked if it would go beyond that, Lewis said, "I’ll let those guys decide as we go.” Bengals rookie CB Dre Kirkpatrick early last week “confirmed reports" on his Twitter feed of a fractured bone in his knee. But Lewis said that it has been “a series of events since April that has made him evaluate things.” Lewis: “I don’t see how tweeting is going to help us win a football game. So it’s part of being selfless right now” (CINCINNATI.com, 7/27). Bengals OT and NFLPA rep Andrew Whitworth said that he has “asked the players' union whether the ban is permitted under the collective bargaining agreement adopted last year.” Whitworth said, ''I've already checked into that, I'm waiting to hear back on that” (AP, 7/28). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said of the Twitter ban, “I don’t know if it’s fair, but it’s smart. But I’m not sure he can make it stick” (“PTI,” ESPN, 7/30).
