Former NFL safety-turned ESPN personality Ryan Clark has tried to make amends with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
After Clark’s wildly insensitive comments on ESPN about the quarterback’s physical shape after a preseason game earned a sharp rebuttal from Tagovailoa on Wednesday, Clark has walked back on his comments in a lengthy apology to the Dolphins starter.
In his remorseful social media post, Clark said the holds himself to a high standard of showing respect to everyone that he interacts with in the NFL world and that his comments about Tagovailoa fell short of that goal.
Clark added that he wanted to hold himself accountable for his words.
“It was never my intention to question Tua’s work ethic or commitment to the game, but I’m also aware enough to know that intent, doesn’t always match impact,” Clark shared. “How something is presented isn’t always how it’s received by everyone. I do my best to be honest when executing my job as well as being honest when I fall short. I fell short on Monday and for that, I genuinely apologize.”
When I decided to do TV I had 2 main priorities.
1. Respect all NFL players, coaches, executives and staff members.
2. Earn and keep the respect of those very same people.
Those priorities are important to me, and when I miss that mark, I have to hold myself accountable.… pic.twitter.com/YgZfcNPN8G
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) August 24, 2023
Good on Clark for stepping up to the plate and correcting himself on his really unfair comments toward Tagovailoa.
Hopefully this wholly unnecessary NFL controversy can now come to a close.