NFL Tight End Blasts 'Witchhunt' Against Wayne Players

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen took to Twitter Wednesday night to criticize police, the Wayne schools chief and the media, hours after nine members of his alma mater's football team from extracurricular activities in the middle of a playoff run.

The nine players are accusing of assaulting two Wayne Valley students.

In a tweet directed at a reporter for the Bergen Record newspaper, Olsen wrote, "hope u feel good. 9 kids who haven't even had a chance to defend themselves have been found guilty bc of witchhunt. ... led by u and people who have no knowledge of the situation. A wrecklass  police chief and a coward board super. What a joke."

Olsen, a first round pick of the Bears in 2007, was a first team All American as a senior at Wayne Hills. His father, Hills coach Chris Olsen, finds himself down nine players as his powerhouse team looks to defend its state championship.

The Patriots shutout Vernon 48-0 in the opening round of the North 1 Group 3 playoffs, and take on Paramus at home on Friday night in the semifinals.

Wayne Hills has won seven state championships since 2002.

"[A]nd if allegations r proved wrong what do u say to the kids? Oh well sorry? Can't get those times back," Greg Olsen tweeted. "By suspending them we are condemning them without a chance for defense," he wrote in another tweet.

Interim Superintendent Michael Roth barred the nine from extracurricular activities Tuesday after a "final review of all the facts known to the Superintendent."

The nine had been allowed to play in the team's previous game.