Former NFL coach Tony Dungy on Tuesday sought to clarify his remarks about drafting St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam, saying his remarks were taken out of context when reported by the Tampa Bay Tribune.
Dungy created a stir Sunday when he told The Tribune he wouldn't have drafted Sam.
"I wouldn't have taken him," said Dungy, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach. "Not because I don't believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn't want to deal with all of it.
"It's not going to be totally smooth ... things will happen."
ESPN endlessly debated Dungy's remarks Monday, and on Tuesday the current NBC analyst attempted to clarify what he meant.
"I was not asked whether or not Michael Sam deserves an opportunity to play in the NFL. He absolutely does," Dungy said in a statement, according to ESPN. "I was not asked whether his sexual orientation should play a part in the evaluation process. It should not.
"I was not asked whether I would have a problem having Michael Sam on my team. I would not.
"I have been asked all of those questions several times in the last three months and have always answered them the same way -- by saying that playing in the NFL is, and should be, about merit," the statement read. "The best players make the team, and everyone should get the opportunity to prove whether they're good enough to play. That's my opinion as a coach.
"But those were not the questions I was asked. What I was asked about was my philosophy of drafting, a philosophy that was developed over the years, which was to minimize distractions for my teams.
"I do not believe Michael's sexual orientation will be a distraction to his teammates or his organization. I do, however, believe that the media attention that comes with it will be a distraction. Unfortunately we are all seeing this play out now, and I feel badly that my remarks played a role in the distraction.
"I wish Michael Sam nothing but the best in his quest to become a star in the NFL and I am confident he will get the opportunity to show what he can do on the field. My sincere hope is that we will be able to focus on his play and not on his sexual orientation."
Sam, a seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft, is the first openly gay NFL player, and he appears to have the support of his teammates.
The Rams begin training camp at the end of the month.
