Getty Patrick Chung
Everyone has a moment when they say something they probably shouldn’t have, but fewer people have the integrity and humility to issue an apology once they have realized they were in error.
NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran offered an apology to the New England Patriots‘ Patrick Chung and Dont’a Hightower after he suggested the players might not have opted out of the 2020 NFL season if Tom Brady was still the team’s quarterback.
Tom Curran’s Initial Take on Patriots Opt-Out Players
Here is a look at the clip which took place on an episode of the Dan Patrick Show:
If Tom Brady was still with the Patriots, would this many players be opting out of the season? @TomECurran doesn’t think so.
For Tom’s full appearance: t.co/CUzRifo21J
Chung, Hightower, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Najee Toran and Dan Vitale all opted out of the upcoming season. Chung and Hightower both cited concerns for family amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cannon has officially spoken on the matter, but because he is a cancer survivor after a bout with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2011, there really isn’t a question as to why he made the choice to sit out.
None of the men ever mentioned football, teammates, or their chances of winning as being a part of their decision-making process. Thus, it was a little presumptuous and perhaps a bit insulting to suggest otherwise.
Patrick Chung Addresses Curran on Twitter
It appears Chung felt the same way as he addressed Curran on Twitter on Thursday.
@dpshow @tomecurran Damn Mr. Curran. I say this with love…. you sound like a idiot. Doesn’t hurt the friendship, you’re not in the dog house. But don’t let your job corrupt your brain man. You know better than that.
Hightower was amongst several hundred people who liked the tweet above. I was personally critical of Curran’s take on Wednesday, and I tweeted the following after watching the clip.
To Curran’s credit, he apologized to both Chung and Hightower and responded to me on Twitter as well.
@PatrickChung23 @dpshow I’m sorry, Patrick. Offense was not intended. Reflecting more, I see why it is offensive to you. Spitballing theories about a person’s personal and private decision and why it MAY have been different is insensitive to the situation. I apologize.
Curran is one of the most respected Patriots insiders, and quite frankly, after the way he handled this situation, that respect level should only go higher.
Also Read:
- Patriots Re-Sign Another Undrafted Free Agent
- Patriots Insider Suggests Opt-Out Players Didn’t Believe in Cam Newton
- Patriots Linked Again to Top Free-Agent Edge Rusher: Report
- Comedian Jokes About Bill Belichick Influencing Patriots Opt-Outs [WATCH]
- Patriots Patrick Chung Responds to Critics of His Decision to Opt-Out