By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Former Patriot Ted Johnson put his foot in his mouth when he joined a Houston area radio station and called Vince Wilfork's wife, Bianca, ugly.

Johnson, joining Sports Radio 610, was asked in a segment on the show which former teammate had the ugliest wife. Johnson took the bait without much fight.

"This is a big, big man," Johnson said in the interview. "This guy had his way with the Texans this year."

And then he not-so-reluctantly dropped all pretense.

"He won't hear this: Vince Wilfork."

Not true, Johnson. Wilfork heard all about it and responded not so kindly via Twitter. Wilfork tweeted:

@tedj52 your barking up the wrong tree I hear and see everything [expletive]

Wilfork went on to let his 144,466 twitter followers know that he wasn't done.

Let me apologize to my fans in advance of whatever I may say today but I do not play when it comes to my family

— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) March 22, 2013

What followed was a profanity laced note attached as a picture to his Twitter account. Wilfork wrote in part:

Every1 is entitled to their own opinion, but it is [expletive] up when a x-teammate that I actually looked up to and enjoyed playing with takes shots at my wife for whatever reasons. I love my wife and my family She is my everything. I don't care when this was said no one should cross that line. The line has been crossed so it is what it is.

Johnson quickly apologized afterward.

I just made a huge error in judgement and want to apologize to Vince and his wife for comments I made earlier today on a Houston radio show

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

Vince and his family are outstanding people who I have admired since they arrived in NE.I learned a big lesson today and feel terrible.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

UPDATE: 12:59 p.m.

I have personally apologized to the family and feel awful.It was a huge error in judgment and I'm sorry for upsetting Vince's family.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

The last thing I will say about this is that I understand the criticism will own my poor decision.

— Ted Johnson (@TedJ52) March 22, 2013

For her part, Bianca Wilfork said on social media while she appreciates the support she's received from fans, "trust me, I'm good."

"In this day and age people forget to realize its not about looks, weight, money or status," she wrote. "My relationship with my husband ... is about being real, building each other up and having each other's back. Those things can't be measured, determined or valued by looks or money. Those things shine in the darkest times and relish in the best."