Terry Bradshaw Apologizes, Explains Seemingly Racist Reggie Bush Comments
Terry Bradshaw, former NFL quarterback turned Hall-of-Famer, is apologizing for a tongue-in-cheek comment that was made about Miami Dolphins' RB Reggie Bush running for chicken on the football field during a game.
Bradshaw, 64, made a comment about Bush after watching highlights of his game against the Indianapolis Colts. While in the studio with NFL studio analyst Jimmy Johnson, Bradshaw noticed a clip of Bush running for a touchdown and likened it to the 27-year-old RB chasing a bucket of chicken.
"Look at this, Jimmy -- like he was chasing that bucket of chicken the wind was blowing the other day," Bradshaw said.
However, the 64-year-old Hall-of-Famer regrets his comment, and apologized for the comment that could have taken a racist connotation for some.
"[I am] so sorry if I hurt anybody and I'm shocked I'm in this position. I can't defend myself," Bradshaw told USA Today recently. "I've never been in a situation like this. I don't know how to react, except to apologize for something I didn't know I said."
The commentator went on to speak about being upset with himself for making the comment.
"I've been upset today," Bradshaw said. "It's not me. I'm shocked."
Bradshaw insisted that his comment was meant to poke fun at Johnson's love of chicken, but instead of saying "you" the commentator said "he."
"I always include the (other Fox on-air guys) in the highlights because it's fun. It could have been with a highlight about anybody," Bradshaw told USA Today. "You never know what's going to come to mind when you do these things so quickly."
However, Fox networks seemed to defend Bradshaw's explanation for his seemingly flippant comment.
"His comment was directed at a studio mate and no one else," Fox spokesman Lou D'Ermilio said in the USA Today report.