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Now that Twitter has pretty much taken over the known world — at least as a barometer of what is and isn’t popular — it’s a good way to measure which team(s) have the largest, most outspoken fans. With that in mind, if you haven’t checked out the Twitter Bowl 2010, perhaps you should. The aspiring minds over at Outspoken Media. specifically, Rae Hoffman and Amanda Orson, have used Twitter to determine which NFL teams have the most vocal and passionate fans.

And the results may surprise you.

While the research may be thing that draws you in, the way it is delivered will make you stay. Rae and Amanda donned their play-by-play caps, and presented their findings like Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels do on Sunday nights.

An example:

Browns vs. Steelers
I have to tell you Rae, this contest was pretty close to a no-show and should have been a landslide. The Steelers came into this game with over 4000 followers waiting to read; nothing. Not a single tweet from the Steelers until this week. Final score: Browns 12, Steelers 11. Browns take the game.

And so on, through four rounds of discovery, leading up to the final match-up, the Twitter Bowl itself.

Not surprisingly, the final “game” pitted the New York Giants and the New York Jets; meaning, these are the two most popular NFL teams on Twitter.

I say “not surprisingly” because of the population of New York City, coupled with the way New Yorkers follow their teams, lends itself to a higher volume of Twitter followers, even if they are split up between two teams. Also, with New Yorkers and their propensity to be outspoken, it’s clear Twitter gives them the perfect platform to sound off about their team, because, among other reasons, it eliminates waiting on Mike Francesca to put in you in his on-air caller queue.

As for their Twitter Bowl findings, here’s one you might find interesting:

Which teams reply most to their users?

Engaging with your followers is what Twitter is all about. To quote Amanda, “otherwise, you’re just broadcasting.” So which teams most “get” the point of Twitter and actually converse with their fans?

* New York Jets – 56.78% of tweets are replies
* Arizona Cardinals – 31.50% of tweets are replies
* Jacksonville Jaguars – 21.91% of tweets are replies
* Seattle Seahawks – 18.55% of tweets are replies
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 13.67% of tweets are replies

Other metrics they looked at include:

Who has been using Twitter the longest?
San Diego Chargers – tweeting since 01/27/07

Which team tweets the most?
Miami Dolphins – 18799 updates

Who actually follows their fans?
San Diego Chargers – 31136 people followed

Which teams have the largest followings?
New England Patriots – 49182 fans

So yeah, come for the great information, and stay for Rae and Amanda’s awesome delivery of their findings.

John Calipari took to his Twitter account — again — to debunk/pacify Kentucky fans concerning the rumor/story being reported by ESPN, et al. Specifically, noted basketball insider, William Wesley, aka, Worldwide Wes, has been contacting NBA teams potentially interested in signing LeBron James to see if they would be interested in a LeBron/John Calipari package.

Wesley is a noted friend of both Calipari and James.

The lead screenshot is Calipari’s response to these rumors, evidently assuming last week’s comments should be enough to ignore the rumors. That being said, I’m not sure how well these words of encouragement are working.

Judging by this particular barometer, they aren’t.

And that, folks, is one of the tamer Tweets sent by Jose “I’ll Narc About Steroids and Consider Myself a Hero” Canseco and the absolute meltdown he’s currently going through. I’m not sure what, exactly, led to baseball’s “first member 40/40 club’s” (How much juice did that designation take?) Twitter explosion; although, a friend of mine pointed this out.

I’m honestly not sure why Canseco would think responding to such nonsense is a good idea — especially in the manner he initially used, which led directly to the meltdown — but perhaps he’s trying to manage his reputation of being something of an ass.

You see, a lot, if not most, people don’t want to be known as a jerk or a hothead, and that’s why most people don’t allow their Twitter accounts to devolve into something resembling the petulant rantings of a jilted high school kid; but then again, none of us are Jose Canseco, either.I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone pat themselves on the back so vigorously, all because they willfully betrayed the trust of just about every person they came across while playing professional baseball; and for nothing more than to supplement a bank account. Make no mistake, Canseco didn’t blow every whistle he could fit into his mouth to better the product he once took advantage of.

No. He simply wrote his steroid tell-alls to make a quick buck.

So while most people use Twitter to control the “good parts” of their reputation, Canseco is using his to show his true colors — and in that respect, he succeeded beyond even my wildest dreams.

Via YouTube, no less. That has to be a first for a collegiate athlete. Normally, players tell their coaches they are leaving via one-on-one meetings and the like. Instead, Royce White decided he’d use social media to get his message to Tubby Smith. While Smith was content to use the more traditional outlets when discussing White’s situation — Online newspapers? How quaint. — White took matters into his own hands via a YouTube bomb.

White recently plead guilty to charges stemming from a shoplifting incident at the Mall of America and has been suspended from the team since November 3rd. Since his suspension, White has been using YouTube to get his side of the story across. In fact, in one of his videos, White praises Smith, saying he’s a great teacher and that he can’t wait to get back and play for him.

Apparently, that sentiment lasted all of four days.

Losing White is a big blow for the Gophers. As the Sporting News pointed out, White was the 19th-ranked freshman in the country coming into the season. For what it’s worth, White indicates he’s not transferring to another school, while insisting he still has love for the University and the state, indicating the door on him returning is still ajar. Perhaps the fatherly Smith will try and salvage White’s tenure with the Gophers by conferring with his prized recruit before the (rash) decision is made permanent.

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to signed oft-maligned running back Larry Johnson, something I’m incredibly ecstatic about. Just read the comments of the linked article for further proof. Anyway, the biggest contributor to Larry Johnson being released by the Kansas City Chiefs was his childish, homophobic meltdown, courtesy of everybody’s favorite social media site, Twitter. Not only did he accost fans, Johnson also called out his coaches — although, I suspect Jason Whitlock quietly supports LJ’s criticism of first-year coach, Todd Haley. Obviously, Johnson has already shown his abilities as a master social media marketer, something he obviously thought the Bengals would enjoy as well.

What else explains his Facebook status update, found courtesy of Kent Babb’s Twitter? I know — Johnson is simply another fine example of the live and don’t learn motto. Seriously, it’s OK to keep making the same kinds of mistakes that got you cut in the first place, so please, don’t stop know.

Granted, I have no doubt Johnson wants to run over every Chief he sees when they play on December 27, but does he really need to run to Facebook and let the world know, especially now that the folks in KC are watching his every move? Perhaps Johnson should take some lessons from the Bengals’ resident social media expert, Chad Ochocinco.

Sure, Chad engages with fans and opposing players, but there doesn’t seem to be undercurrent of anger Johnson displays in his communications.

Instead of putting potential performance escalators in Johnson’s contract — I’m not even sure if they are apart of his Bengals offer — perhaps Marvin Lewis should simply restrict Johnson from using social media. If he can’t use it correctly, the toy should be taken away. It’s either that, or he can get cut. Again.

H/t to Arrowhead Pride for the Twitter find.

Whether he’s kicking unexpected extra points — well, I might add — teaching us how to say “f**k you” to folks without actually insulting them, or seeking financial advice from head coaches, one thing’s pretty clear: It’s Ocho’s world and we are merely observers put here to chronicle his activities. About the extra point. Cincinnati only carries one kicker on their roster, Shayne Graham, who was nursing an groin injury. Therefore, after Chris Henry’s go-ahead touchdown, the Bengals needed someone to kick the extra point. Enter Chad Ochocinco, who, can apparently do it all.

Chad’s extra point fallout after the jump >>

Between here and Cincy Jungle, I’ve been on a little kick concerning Chad Ochocinco’s Twitter profile. It’s becoming a thing of legend, and if he keeps using it like he has been, I fear it will be taken from us all too soon. By now, you probably know about Chad’s use of Twitter while the team was at the theater, watching the new GI Joe movie.

Good times were had by all, or not.

More on Ocho’s Twitter obsession after the jump >>

As Chad Ocho Johnson Cinco embraces the social media craze — Twitter and Ustream are his “drugs” of choice — he’s brought an older catchphrase back into our everyday vernacular: Child, please. These two words pretty much permeate throughout Chad’s current Internet existence. Take these examples… for example:

After the jump >>