:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46138720/GettyImages-177211710.0.jpg)
The Aaron Hernandez murder trial was more than a football story. As ESPN commentators pointed out many times in the two hours following Hernandez's guilty verdict, the word football only came up about three times on the network during that span. But, the story hits home for many players who knew and played with Hernandez during his college and NFL career.
Here are some of the reactions that Bengals players took to social media to share following the news that Hernandez would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Damn...life no parole? Man
— George Iloka (@George_iloka) April 15, 2015
No, just sad in so many ways. For the victim's family. And young daughters of both that won't know their fathers. https://t.co/pnFuYnZKGX
— George Iloka (@George_iloka) April 15, 2015
Dang that's crazy....
— Giovani Bernard (@G_Bernard25) April 15, 2015
Speechless!!!!
— Andre Smith (@BigSmitty71) April 15, 2015
Carlos Dunlap, Hernandez's college teammate shared this emoji, described as "person bowing deeply":
— Carlos Dunlap (@Carlos_Dunlap) April 15, 2015
Damn tough day in the sports world, prayers up
— Cobi Hamilton (@CobiHam11) April 15, 2015