If Chris Culliver isn’t suspended by Goodell then I am absolutely embarrassed to be part of a league that accepts this type of behavior.Wow, we need more football players to get out and show their support.
"You know, I think that in San Francisco, and being from the Bay Area myself, that's something that we really try to preach -- love and acceptance of everybody. And so I couldn't really even say anything negative to the young man. It's just one of those things where you have to live and you have to learn. And I said earlier on (a TV broadcast) -- in the words of Martin Luther King, you can't fight hate with hate. You have to fight hate with love. We've all made our mistakes, we've all been there and done certain things, and we've hurt people regardless if we meant to do it or not. But more than anything it's an opportunity to have a learning experience.
I've preached since day one to my teammates that there's certain words you can't say. And when they're around me they know -- if B.A.'s around, you can't say 'gay' in a derogatory manner, you can't say the three-letter 'f' word. And I tell them, I go, you can't say those things. And if people hear you say those things, regardless if you mean them or not, they're going to fry you. And if it's in a public arena your whole reputation's going to be roasted for it.
So we've kind of seen it happen this time. So we just have to all learn from what happened, from this mistake. He apologized and hopefully he'll learn. And he's in the Bay Area, and it's really important there, it's pertinent there. So I think he's going to learn and he's going to grow to be a better person for it."
He also apologized to the city of San Francisco and added that he would welcome a gay teammate to the 49ers, a reversal of his remarks to Lange two days ago. San Francisco and the Bay Area are home to a large gay community.
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday he spoke with Culliver about his comments but he wouldn't get into specifics of his conversation with the cornerback.
"There's not malice in his heart. He's not an ugly person. He's not a discriminatory person. I really believe that this is something that he'll learn and grow from," Harbaugh said.You can read his apology here. I need for him to go on TV and make an apology.
"I don't do the gay guys man. I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah."Then he concluded with this about a player coming out on the team:
"Yeah, come out 10 years later after that."Sweet stuff? Chris, have a seat and get a teacher okay. Because you made these comments, I wonder if you like some of that sweet stuff, but I'll chill out for now. Here is the 49s' statement in response to Culliver's mess:
“The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”Chris, watch your back.
