Niners cornerback Chris Culliver is hoping any more attention he gets at the Super Bowl will be for his football ability and not for his mouth.
Culliver apologized today for anti-gay remarks he made earlier this week.
He said in an interview with comedian Artie Lange that he would not welcome a gay teammate and, if there were any gay players already on the Niners, they should leave.
“Ain’t got no gay people on the team,” he said. “They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”
Culliver added that gay football players should wait 10 years after retiring before coming out.
He retracted those remarks at a Jan. 31 press conference, acknowledging they had been hurtful, especially playing in a city like San Francisco which has a large gay population.
“I’m sorry if I offended anyone. They were very ugly comments,” he said, adding they had been made “pretty much in a joking manner” because he knew he was speaking with a comedian (Lange) rather than an actual journalist.
“Hopefully I learn and grow from this experience and this situation.”
Niners coach Jim Harbaugh was harsh in his criticism of Culliver’s words.
“I reject what he said. That’s not something that reflects the way this organization feels, the way the rest of the players feel.”
Harbaugh would not comment on what discipline Culliver may face from the team.
