Ted Johnson insults Wilfork's wife, Wilfork responds

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A radio interview sparked some tough talk between two former New England Patriots teammates on Friday.

Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said comments made on the radio about his wife by former teammate Ted Johnson were out of line. Wilfork made it clear on Twitter that you don’t mess with his family.

In an interview on a Houston sports radio station, former Patriots linebacker Johnson was asked by a listener which of his teammates had the ugliest spouse. Johnson responded saying, “Oh I know who it is and he’s a great guy and his wife seems like a great guy -- great gal I should say -- looks like a great guy, seems like a great gal,” Johnson said about Wilfork’s wife, Bianca.

Wilfork (@wilfork75) responded immediately, sending out angry, profanity-laced tweets to Johnson (@TedJ52). One said: “Your [sic] barking up the wrong tree. I hear and see everything [expletive].”

Wilfork then tweeted an apology to Patriots nation:

Let me apologize to my fans in advance of whatever I may say today but I do not play when it comes to my family

— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) March 22, 2013

Wilfork tweeted to Johnson again, this time a letter which read, in part, “…it is [expletive] when an ex teammate that I actually looked up to and enjoyed playing with, takes shots at my wife…I love my wife and my family, she is my everything.”

Johnson quickly tried to make amends by tweeting:

I just made a huge error in judgement and want to apologize to Vince and his wife for comments I made earlier today on a Houston radio show

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

 Johnson followed the tweet with a few more tweets:

Vince and his family are outstanding people who I have admired since they arrived in NE.I learned a big lesson today and feel terrible.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

I have personally apologized to the family and feel awful.It was a huge error in judgment and I'm sorry for upsetting Vince's family.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

The last thing I will say about this is that I understand the criticism will own my poor decision.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

Vince and Bianca Wilfork have been a publicly affectionate couple. During a game in December, Vince Wilfork tossed a game ball to Bianca in the stands after he recovered a fumble.

Responding to sympathetic supporters, Bianca Wilfork tweeted:

Thanks 4all the great tweets I know u guys are waiting for me to go off but I'm good trust me I love me and I love that my husband loves me

— bianca wilfork (@mrs75) March 22, 2013

Bianca Wilfork also posted an Instagram picture on her Twitter page saying:

"In this day and age people forget to realize it's not about looks, weight, money or status. My relationship with my husband... Is about being real, being in love, building each other up and having each other’s back."

 Wilfork and Johnson played together in 2004. Johnson was in his final season in the NFL and Wilfork was a rookie.

Some fans tried to defend Johnson.

“Maybe he was on the spot and was trying to make a joke,” one fan said.

Other fans thought the comments were out of hand.

“Vince is a great guy and his wife is really great supporting him so I’m really disappointed Teddy would say that,” one man said.

A spokesperson for the New England Patriots said they didn't get involved with any of the social media conversations on Friday, but they did send a message of support to Vince and Bianca Wilfork.

It appeared Johnson emptied his Twitter account Friday night.