Of course, things can never be that simple — multiple rumors circulated about my departure from Seattle — and not all fans seem to understand that football, in the end, is a business. After my four-year contract was completed, I signed a new deal with a new team, a process that plays itself across the league each and every season.

Unfortunately, I have since been harassed on social media over a multitude of reasons about why I left, none of which are true. It was profoundly disappointing, not only that these “fans” were circulating rumors about me, but more so how my reputation became tarnished in the process.

I did not have an affair with Russell Wilson’s wife, nor did I have anything to do with his divorce. That is laughable for anyone who knows us. His ex-wife, Ashton, is still best friends with my girlfriend. Russell and I were good friends when I was in Seattle, on and off the field — he knows the rumors about me were unfounded, damaging to my reputation, and an attack on my character. Anyone who circulated that rumor was just plain irresponsible.

There was also a social media frenzy concerning me and Percy Harvin. To set the record straight, I was not punched by Percy during Super Bowl week last year, nor did I have a black eye, as was speculated on by various Internet reports. I even saw a photo of my face that was photoshopped with a mark on it! Percy and I did have a confrontation, yes, but no punches were thrown, and it certainly never rose to the level that was erroneously reported by certain outlets. I highly respect his level of play. He’s one of the best in the game!

The false rumors about me served to open my eyes and sensitize me to what I read or hear in the media. Imagine, for a moment, walking in my shoes — having malicious and damaging accusations flying fast and furious, only you had no way of stemming the tide; no one person to call out and demand a retraction and an apology from. Now, imagine yourself squarely in the public eye, facing thousands of people lambasting you for something you didn’t say or do.

DeAngelo Williams was right. In the Internet era, stories like these live on — in search engines, in archives, and in the minds of fans watching the game. They will never fully go away, regardless of how I address them and how others debunk them. I actually learned something through all of this, it’s my Golden Rule, so to speak: “Treat others as you would like to be treated — especially on social media.”

Situations like this can and do change a person, and the way they choose to interact with the public. I know it has for me. I don’t tweet or Instagram as much as I used to. I do still read my mentions, and every day there’s a couple of people throwing salt my way, but anyone who actually knows me knows that what I say is usually joking around. I’m a big goofball. Some think the way I play the game is wrong, but that’s just me. I like to have fun, both on the field and in my interactions with fans — but there’s never any malicious intent.

I’ve learned not to take these social media interactions as seriously anymore. If something makes me mad, I just realize it stems for ignorance or hate. Sure, people in the public eye are often misunderstood, and fans can only judge me based on what they see between the white lines, but I have 100 percent confidence that those who deride me would feel differently if they knew what I stood for, if they knew about my faith in Christ, and my dedication to making a difference in the community.

This is exactly why I wish the media told more positive stories about NFL players. I know “scandal sells,” but there are a lot of really good guys in our league who do a lot for their cities and their communities. Sadly, those efforts get far less attention than when something goes wrong for one of their teammates.

It would be foolish of me not acknowledge that well-paid professional athletes, celebrities and other public figures must accept the bad that comes along with the good, but facing viral stories about you that aren’t true is no easy task. When those who don’t even know you, judge you based solely on what they’ve “heard,” it creates a bad environment for the player and those close to him.

None of this is to suggest that the majority of players do not care about their relationship with their fans. I know I do. I’m so grateful for the support I received from the 12s during my time in Seattle, and I have loved getting to know the Lions’ faithful in my first season in Detroit. I have four more years left on my current contract, and I’m looking forward to making an even bigger impact in Detroit — both on and off the field.

Hopefully, this essay will serve as a way for you to get to know me — the realme — a little bit better. Maybe it will encourage you, the next time you want to write or tweet or yell something at an athlete you don’t really know, to stop and consider the impact of your words. And maybe, just maybe, I will re-engage over social media to help that along.

If it’s coming directly from me, you can be certain it will accurately reflect who I am.