NFL Player Posts Instagram Photo Showing Police Officer's Throat Getting Slit

CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork) -- An NFL player is apologizing for posting a graphic image on Instagram showing a man dressed in all black slitting the throat of a police officer.

Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, 23, deleted the image he posted on Instagram showing blood gushing out of the officer's neck. The image conjures up videos posted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria showing the terrorist known as "Jihadi John" beheading American and British victims.

"Mood: They give polices all types of weapons and they continuously choose to kill us…(hashtag)Weak," the caption read.

Cleveland.com reported the image went up after two black men – Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – were fatally shot by police, but before five police officers were killed in Dallas last Thursday.

"Last week was an emotional and difficult week as we saw extreme acts of violence against black men across our country as well as against police officers in Dallas. I posted an image to Instagram in the midst of that emotion that I shouldn't have and immediately removed it. It was an extremely poor decision and I apologize for that mistake and for offending people. My values and beliefs do not match that image," Crowell said in a statement.

The statement continued, "I am outraged and upset by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile along with so many others. I am also outraged and saddened by the attacks in Dallas and the deaths of the 5 honorable police officers (Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarripa) who were providing protection while trying to keep peace. We have to be better as a society, it's not about color, it's about what's right and wrong. I was very wrong in posting that image. Every single life matters, every death as a result of violence should be treated with equal outrage and penalty."

It is not known if the Browns or the NFL will take action against Crowell over the Instagram post.

The third-year running back led the Browns in rushing last season with 706 yards. Crowell rushed for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns his first two seasons.