Ex-NFL player Ryan Clark walks back criticism of Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: 'I truly apologize'

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Super Bowl winner Ryan Clark apologized to Tua Tagovailoa for his criticism the Dolphins quarterback's physique and work ethic earlier this week during a television segment.

During a recent episode of ESPN's "NFL Live" Clark pointed to the amount of weight Tagovailoa might have seemingly gained during the offseason, comparing his figure to a dancer at a strip club. Clark also suggested that the Dolphins signal caller had skipped some gym sessions, saying he was "not at the dinner table eating what the nutritionist had advised."

On Thursday, Clark attempted to walk back his remarks, saying that his commentshad been made in jest and that his "ego was involved."

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Tua Tagovailoa, #1 of the Miami Dolphins, jogs off the field before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Dolphins 34-3. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

But Tagovailoa did not seem to take Clark's comments as a joke, telling the ESPN analyst to keep his name out of his mouth.

"I'd appreciate if you kept my name out of your mouth," Tagovailoa said during a session with reporters on Wednesday. "That's what I'd say."

DOLPHINS' TUA TAGOVAILOA RIPS TV ANALYST WHO CRITICIZED HIS PHYSIQUE: 'KEEP MY NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH'

Clark took to social media to issue his apology to Tagovailoa.

"If I've offended you Tua, if I've hurt you, if I've disrespected you, if anybody that supports you and loves you feels some sort of way because of what I said, I truly apologize," Clark said in a video posted on social media.

Clark also noted that said he spoke with