CINCINNATI -- Bengals Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth told ESPN on Wednesday evening a tweet criticizing team president Mike Brown that was sent from his Twitter account earlier in the afternoon was sent accidentally.

"Mike Brown told me I'm done here," the tweet from Whitworth's account read. "Said I can play this year and go home. So I told him I want a raise or I'll sit my ass at home this …"

Andrew Whitworth caused a stir on Twitter this afternoon with a tweet from his account criticizing team president Mike Brown. The tweet has since been deleted. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

Whitworth said the social-media message originated from his wife, and that it was intended to be sent as a private message to one of Whitworth's teammates.

"Anybody that knows her knows she's sarcastic," Whitworth said. "She was just trying to be funny with the teammate."

Whitworth added that his wife was distraught.

Minutes after the tweet went live, it was deleted. Not long after that, Whitworth's account was deleted, too. He confirmed he made both changes.

Before too long, however, Whitworth reactivated his account, making it private. One of his first messages repeated what he told ESPN.

"Twitter 101 with the Wife for Mothers Day! Don't respond to text with a Blue Bird!!!" the tweet read. "If you know her, you know its just her!! lol"

Earlier this week, Whitworth made waves when he called out the Bengals for what he believed was a lack of progress on his potential contract extension. The 10-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Cincinnati criticized the Bengals for having poor "customer service."

"It's pretty easy to prove my contributions to this franchise over the last 10 years and you've got a guy fighting for his life?" Whitworth said Monday. "I think I've earned more than that."

The 33-year-old's career began with one .500 season and a pair of losing campaigns. In the last six years, though, he has been a key part of a complete turnaround. The Bengals have made it to the playoffs in five of those six seasons, including the last four. It's the longest string of playoff berths they have had in franchise history.

Whitworth discussed his contract status after having been asked his thoughts on the Bengals selecting two offensive tackles within their first two picks of last weekend's draft. Although he said he would mentor both rookies -- and already has, inviting them to his house to watch last Saturday's Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight -- Whitworth said he was surprised the Bengals took the players without telling him before the draft. Coach Marvin Lewis said he and Brown discussed that possibility days before the draft.

Whitworth is one of 26 players entering contract years. The team captain said Monday he would like a new deal with the Bengals before the season begins.