New England Patriots fifth-round pick, Justin Rohrwasser out of Marshall, told a Boston TV station Monday will have the controversial “Three Percenters” tattoo removed from his left arm.
The kicker was chosen Saturday and afterward, social media took notice of the body art associated with a “right-wing” militia group.
Rohrwasser, who began his college career at Rhode Island before transferring to Marshall, went on WBZ-TV. When questioned about the tattoo after being drafted, he said he would cover it up while playing. Now, he says he realizes that isn’t enough.
“As soon as I saw what it was linked to on Saturday, it was exactly that time I knew I had to get it totally taken off my body,” said the kicker, who got the tattoo five years ago when he was18. “I said cover it up [to reporters], but I want to get it removed from my body. It’s shameful that I had it on there ignorantly.”
The kicker, taken 159th overall, said the body art was not an issue when he kicked at the West Virginia school in college.
“No, never. The first time I found out what it was linked to was on Saturday. That’s why it was so surprising,” said Rohrwasser whose Twitter account quickly went to “These Tweets are protected” after the controversy percolated.
“We were celebrating and hugging [on Saturday]. So happy. I went on to Twitter. I saw that someone had taken a picture of me and put it with my tattoo and linking me to some horrific events — obviously Charlottesville and these horrible things.”
Rohrwasser added: “I’m sorry for all my [friends] and family that have to defend me. Putting them in that compromising position is one of the biggest regrets I’ll ever have. To them, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going to learn from this. I’m going to take ownership of it. This is not who I am. No matter what, that’s not who I am. Hopefully, you will all find that out.”