ESPN NFL analyst Troy Aikman said he regrets making a remark that critics deemed to be sexist.
Aikman, during Monday night's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, suggested the league "take the dresses off" when it comes to roughing penalties.
While appearing Thursday on 96.7 "The Ticket" in Dallas, Aikman, 55, called his remarks "dumb."
"My comments were dumb, just shouldn’t have made them," Aikman said, the New York Post reported.
During the broadcast of the Chiefs’ 30-29 victory, Aikman questioned a first-half, roughing-the-passer penalty called when defensive lineman Chris Jones tackled Raiders quarterback Derek Carr from behind.
"My hope is the competition committee looks at this in the next set of meetings and, you know, we take the dresses off," Aikman said.
Many people took to social media to express outrage over Aikman’s comment.
"Did Troy Aikman really just say what I think he said?" radio host Jason Page tweeted. "Did he really just say that it's time for the league to"take the dresses off"? The 60's called, they want their chauvinist back. Seriously @ESPN ... do better than that crap."
Not all posts slammed Aikman for his "dresses" comment.
"everyone mad at #TroyAikman for a joke. A joke! #tuesdayvibe #LiberalismIsAMentalDisorder," Do As I Say, Not As I Do wrote in a retweet of Page's post.
ESPN has not issued a statement about Aikman’s comments.
Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 after a 12-year career as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. He led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories.
Aikman is in the first year of a five-year contract with ESPN that is worth somewhere in the $90 million range, Sports Illustrated reported.
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