Ryan Clark apologizes to Tua Tagovailoa after comparing Dolphins QB’s behind to that of a stripper
- Ryan Clark told ESPN that Tagovailoa didn’t hit the gym this offseason
- He also compared the Dolphins quarterback’s behind to that of a stripper.
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ESPN NFL analyst and former player Ryan Clark apologized to Tua Tagovailoa in a video posted to X on Thursday.
Clark sparked controversy when he recaps Tagovailoa’s performance against Houston in Saturday’s 28-3 win in their penultimate preseason game on a recent ESPN broadcast taping. NFL live.
During the segment, Clark mocked the former Alabama quarterback, suggesting he didn’t train properly this offseason and his behind looks like a stripper’s.
“If I offended you, Tua, if I hurt you, if I disrespected you, if someone who supports you and loves you feels anything because of what I said, so I really apologize.” Clark said on X.
“I had two priorities when I started this job,” Clark said of joining ESPN after a 13-year career in the NFL.
ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark issued an apology on social media Thursday for his comments.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Washington Redskin clowned Tagovailoa on ESPN’s NFL Live
‘No. 1 – respect the players, managers and coaches who make this game work. #2 – it was about earning the respect of those same people, and more importantly; keeping it. Anything contrary to that, so I have to check myself.
Clark added his verbal apology in written form, alongside the video on Elon Musk’s platform.
“I have a responsibility to these players to be thoughtful in how I present my opinions about them,” he wrote.
“Jokes about Tua Tagovailoa, I didn’t take that responsibility. I never intended to question Tua’s work ethic or commitment to the game, but I’m also aware enough to know that intent doesn’t always equal impact. The way something is presented isn’t always how everyone receives it.
“I do my best to be honest in the performance of my work and to be honest when I fail. I failed on Monday and for that I sincerely apologize.
On Wednesday, Tagovailoa addressed Clark’s dissent during his Dolphins press conference, revealing he felt the take was “weird” and lashed out at Will Smith over Clark.
“I would appreciate if you would keep my name out of your mouth,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s what I would say.
“It’s kind of weird when other people talk about other people when they’re not that person. It’s just a little weird. My origin is that I come from a Samoan family.
Dolphins quarterback Tagovailoa didn’t back down from clapping Ryan Clark on Wednesday
“Respect is everything, but you get to a point where, ‘Hey, that’s kinda easy, mate. “I think we’re pretty tough people, and if we need to be happy, we can also get scrappy. I’m just saying.
Tagovailoa has been working to build muscle this offseason in a bid to better protect himself after suffering two concussions during the 2022 season that threw his future as a footballer into question.
“We’ve all worked hard throughout the offseason, and I’m not one to talk about myself all the time, but it takes a lot. Do you think I wanted to build all those muscles? No. To some extent measure, I wanted to be a little lighter. I don’t know.
“There’s a mix of things that people don’t understand, that people don’t know about, that people talk about, that go on behind the scenes.”
