Brandon Marshall Apologizes To Warren Sapp, But Shouldn't It Be The Other Way Around?
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Sep 28, 2012 5:40PM
Earlier this week, NFL announcer Warren Sapp called Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall a retard, and Marshall responded by talking about awareness and education on mental illnesses on video and on his Twitter account. Now, Marshall is apologizing to Sapp saying, "I think it would have helped him more if I would have kept it private."
Doesn't that seem like it should be the other way around? ESPN writes:
"That thing started like a year ago," Marshall said. "It was actually Sterling Sharpe that made the comment, and I made the comment back last year. It took me by surprise last year. I will say, if I could do it again, I really meant everything I said, but I think it would have helped him more if I would have kept it private."So I apologize to Warren Sapp for saying that publicly. Like I said, I meant everything I said, but where I'm at in my life I need to learn from that and definitely keep that private. It started off as something he said publicly, and I talked to him a little bit privately over email, and it didn't go the way I wanted it to. So we'll both learn from this and be better men."
Marshall posted two videos to his Twitter account on Tuesday in response to Sapp's comments. Yes, Marshall took a couple of jabs at Sapp's finances and personal life, but we're not so sure Marshall really needed to be the one issuing an apology. This is what Sapp said during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show:
These kids that play the game today have no relevance for the past, have no conscious of what it is. ... I mean, Brandon Marshall talking about Shannon Sharpe, who is he to talk? He’s the first 100-catch receiver, back-to-back, retard. What you just did in Denver for three years. You don’t know this? No, of course he doesn’t, because it’s not about Brandon Marshall ... it ain’t about the past, it’s about me. It’s about personal success, pay me, and now I’ll think about being a team guy.
Now, here is the harshest criticism Marshall offered in his video response:
Be very careful who you take advice from. You want to surround yourself with good people, godly people. When I look at Warren Sapp, I can't go to him and talk about finances because he filed for bankruptcy. I can't go to him and talk about my marriage because he filed for divorce. I can't go to him and talk about being a father because one day I'm going to have children because he's not active in his children's life.
Sapp did offer a statement of apology earlier this week, but it didn't read like it was an apology for Marshall. "I want to apologize to all those who I offended with my poor choice of words," Sapp told the Tribune. "I certainly meant no disrespect to those who have some type of disability or special needs."