WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Former Washington Redskins player and football analyst Dexter Manley apologized after calling former Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman a "queer" on a radio show.
Manley had been a regular guest on Washington radio station WTOP and was brought on Monday morning to discuss the Cowboys' last-second loss to the Detroit Lions Sunday. The interview was jovial and laugh-filled, The Washington Post said, that is until a toss away question at the end where one of the anchors asked Manley if he thought it was a jinx for the Cowboys to have Aikman serving as the television analyst.
"I think Troy was a queer," Manley responded.
WTOP's anchors immediately challenged Manley and admonished him for the remark. Manley apologized on the air, saying "I'm sorry about that. I take that back. ... I apologize."
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Shortly thereafter, WTOP's newsroom director Jim Farley released a statement saying Manley would no longer be invited on as a guest.
"This morning in a live interview former Redskins player Dexter Manley made an offensive and derogatory comment," Farley said in a statement. "He was immediately challenged by WTOP news anchors Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. We were shocked and stunned and we apologize to our listeners that this happened on WTOP. WTOP has contacted a representative for Manley and informed her that he will not be returning."
Manley issued his own apology Monday, as well.
"In an interview with WTOP radio Monday, while intending to be funny, I used a slur to refer to Troy Aikman," he said. "It was wrong and insensitive. Anyone that knows me knows that's not who I am in my heart or mind. I want to apologize to Troy, but I mostly want to apologize to anyone else I offended. Like a lot of people in these times, I have to realize that what I thought was funny years ago doesn't work now. I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again and hope you will accept my apology."
