Doug Williams, Washington Redskins senior vice president of player personnel, apologized Friday for his comments a day earlier related to Reuben Foster’s domestic violence arrest.
On Thursday, Williams told The Team 980 that Foster’s arrest was “small potatoes” compared to “a lot of things out there.” In the interview, Williams was also laughing at times when discussing Foster.
The comments — and the general tone of the interview — sparked heavy criticism. ESPN’s Molly Qerim blasted the Redskins on “First Take,” calling Williams’ remarks embarrassing.
After the Redskins’ wrapped up practice, Williams addressed reporters, but did not take questions.
“First of all, I want to apologize to the organization, my wife, my mom, my sisters and the six daughters that I have,” Williams said. “I really — the last night or so has been real tough on me from an emotional standpoint because never in my life have I said anything so insensitive as I’ve said. I’m not going to sit here and make excuses, because there is no excuses.
“There’s not a lot to say no more than the fact that if you know me, you would understand, you know, growing up I understand the climate and what’s going on and for me to have make comments like I did, I just want to apologize to anybody out there within earshot, especially the ladies of this area [and] across the country,” he said. “And like I said, I’ve got six daughters. There is no way in the world I would tolerate anything like that. So for me to just say something like that, I just want to apologize.”
Washington claimed Foster on Tuesday, days after he was arrested in Tampa after an ex-girlfriend accused him of pushing her and slapping her with an open hand. The arrest led the San Francisco 49ers to release him.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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