With the Super Bowl only days away, both injury and controversy have hit the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers as they vie for their sixth franchise Vince Lombardi trophy.
Drawing headlines this week was cornerback Chris Culliver, who was forced to apologize after he made anti-gay remarks during Media Day this week leading up the Super Bowl XLVII.
"The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel," Culliver said in a statement released by the 49ers. "It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience."
The comments Culliver alluded to regarded an interview he took part in with comedian Artie Lange this week. When Langie asked if there were any gay players on the 49ers squad, Culliver replied, ""I don't do the gay guys man," said Culliver. "I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah ... can't be ... in the locker room man. Nah."
The 49ers were quick to issue a team statement distancing themselves from Culliver's comments, implying that the organization did not share those views and would speak with their cornerback regarding his remarks.
Meanwhile, from insults, the news of injury hit the team this week, as defensive tackle Justin Smith revealed that he is playing with a 50 percent torn left triceps heading into the big game on Sunday.
However, Smith will be playing on Sunday and is expected to have surgery to correct the problem after the season.
But is the 12-year veteran done with football? Not by a longshot, he says.
"I'm not going to retire after this year," Smith said. "I would like to come back and try to get here (the Super Bowl) again. I realize my career is definitely winding down. I'm not saying I'm going to play another eight years or something like that. I want to play at a high level."