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PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Terrell Owens says if the food is bad at the Chargers' training camp, Antonio Cromartie should be allowed to tweet his mind.

Owens on Friday defended the San Diego cornerback, who was fined $2,500 by his team for criticizing the food service at training camp on Twitter.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Owens, an active user of the social media network. "For someone to get fined $2,500 because they tweeted that the cafeteria food was bad ... then maybe they need to change (the food). That's his honest opinion."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said players should not criticize the Chargers' organization in tweets.

Owens saw no harm.

"What's wrong with that?" he said. "It's no different than saying practice is too hard."

The Chargers use Twitter as a promotional tool but are wary of unbridled tweets by their players. The Chargers felt Cromartie's missive about the "nasty food" at camp went too far.

For $2,500, Cromartie — crimetime31 on Twitter — has enjoyed a public relations boost. In a tweet after the fine he said, "I wld like to think (sic) all my new followers since I got fine I promise I wnt let u down ok look forward to sum grt stuff 2 come."

He might even be able to recoup his loss. Teammate Shawne Merriman teased fans he'd tweet more if they donate $1 to Cromartie's cause.

Merriman, who thought the fine was pretty steep, also sent, "And by the way i thought the food was AMAZING today."

Bills coach Dick Jauron and team officials also have spoken to their players about being careful with their tweets.

Asked to critique the cuisine at Bills training camp, Owens grinned.

"Trust me," he said. "This is the best cafeteria food selection I've been around. It's great here, and I'm not just feeding you a line."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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