Joe Flacco apologizes for "retarded" comments at Super Bowl Media Day. Baltimore Ravens Quarterback sorry for offensive remarks that he made.
Joe Flacco has been called "dull" by his own father, but some insensitive comments he made while talking about the 2014 Super Bowl in New York while talking to reporters have been anything but that.
Flacco called playing the game in the cold weather city "retarded", which he immediately said was a spoor choice of words. Flacco came out an apologized during Media Day on Tuesday for what he said and characterized it a misstep rather than anything more serious.
"Obviously, it was a bad choice of words. I wish I hadn't said it," the Baltimore Ravens quarterback said Tuesday during Super Bowl XLVII media day. "I have a great relationship with Special Olympics back in Baltimore and have had one for many years. I didn't mean to offend anybody, but I definitely apologize for it."
Flacco has a long-standing relationship with Special Olympics Maryland, but the organization is standing by the quarterback.
"We're glad to see he took it back immediately and recognized that he kind of made a slip," said Special Olympics Maryland spokeswoman Linda Ellingsworth to the Baltimore Sun. "We're still supportive of him and look forward to working with him in the future."
Flacco originally made the comments after the Ravens arrived in New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
"I think it's retarded. I probably shouldn't say that. I think it's stupid," he told reporters. "If you want a Super Bowl, put a retractable dome on your stadium. Then you can get one. Other than that I don't really like the idea. I don't think people would react very well to it, or be glad to play anybody in that kind of weather."
The Baltimore Sun quoted Flacco during an appearance for Special Olympics this past summer as saying, "Special Olympics is such a cool organization. A lot of kids come out here and give it their all. The amount of fun that they have when they go out there and do it is out of this world. That's what it's really what it's about. It's about having fun. It's about showing little kids that want to play this sport how much fun it is. And I think when you get a chance to hang around the kids that compete at this kind of thing it allows me to kind of step back for a second and realize how lucky we are to be doing what we're doing."
The game is being held Feb. 2, 2014, at the building shared by the Giants and Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. It will be the first time the game is held outdoors in a cold weather city and the Farmer's Almanac says to expect bad weather, with "an intense storm, heavy rain, snow and strong winds."
During Media Day on Tuesday Flacco, who is a New Jersey native, elaborated on his comments about the Super Bowl, saying that the game is too important to be the whims of the weather.
"I think it's obvious reasons," Flacco said. "They've done it the way they've been doing it for 47 years. There's a lot that goes into this game, more than just playing the game: It's about the fans and it's about the players that played for the right to get there. There are a lot of things that go into it and it's just kind of a crazy decision, I believe."
According to the Daily News: "the National Weather Service said the average high in nearby Newark on Feb. 2 is 39.8 degrees and the low is 24.2. The average precipitation on that date going back to 1931 is about one-eighth of an inch."
The coldest weather at Super Bowl was 39 degrees when Dallas beat Miami in January 1972 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. According to ESPN.com, last week, a 24-degree Thursday in Manhattan that felt a lot colder because of the wind, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is "thrilled" that next year's Super Bowl is being hosted in the New York region, while adding that they'll be "prepared" in the event of harsh weather conditions.
Flacco's father made some headlines on Monday as well, saying that his son is as "dull" as he seems. Flacco is known for his even-keeled demeanor much like last year's Super Bowl champion Eli Manning.
Joe is dull," Steve Flacco told The New York Times in a telephone interview. "As dull as he is portrayed in the media, he's that dull. He is dull."
During media day the quarterback responded to his dad's comments.
"I don't know if I would say I'm dull but probably close to it," Joe Flacco said with a laugh, adding: "I think he takes that as a compliment. He (my dad) looks at that and says, 'He's not out there doing anything crazy or making a joke of himself. I raised him the right way.' I think that's how he takes it."
Apart from the apology and his father's dull comments, Flacco has also been mentioned in regards to his next contract, which he would like to be in line with highest paid players in the league.
According to Yahoo Sports, reports say that Flacco is looking to negotiate a new contract that will pay him $20 million per season. He is set to be a free agent when the year ends and is in the last year of a five-year, $29.75 million contract.
In 2012, Flacco passed for 3,817 yards with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and has been excellent in the playoffs, throwing for 853 yards with eight touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Last season Flacco threw for 3,610 yards and 20 touchdowns, but had 12 interceptions while completing just 57 percent of his passes, one of the lowest in the league. In his first three seasons Flacco completed over 60 percent of his passes each year, but also threw 34 interceptions