ESPN analyst Rob Parker upset a lot of people last week when he called Robert Griffin III a "cornball brother," even though Griffin's family responded to the ridiculous statements with class.
Parker has since been suspended by the network. On Wednesday, he began to say he's sorry.
"I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry," Parker wrote. "I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. This past Thursday I failed to do that. I believe the intended topic is a worthy one. Robert's thoughts about being an African-American quarterback and the impact of his phenomenal success have been discussed in other media outlets, as well as among sports fans, particularly those in the African-American community.
"The failure was in how I chose to discuss it on First Take, and in doing so, turned a productive conversation into a negative one. I regrettably introduced some points that I never should have and I completely understand the strong response to them, including ESPN's reaction. Perhaps most importantly, the attention my words have brought to one of the best and brightest stars in all of sports is an unintended and troubling result. Robert Griffin III is a talented athlete who not only can do great things on the field, but off the field handles himself in a way we are all taught -- with dignity, respect and pride.
"I've contacted his agent with hopes of apologizing to Robert directly. As I reflect on this and move forward, I will take the time to consider how I can continue to tackle difficult, important topics in a much more thoughtful manner."
The apology is good to see. It is certainly better than the alternative. It would be even more impactful if Parker's previous tweets after the comments didn't tell followers they were uneducated, silly, pathetic, and typical. Those responses remain on Parker's page.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
