Chris Culliver Sorry For Gay Hate Comments?

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is speaking out after comments about not accepting a gay teammate.

"I don't do the gay guys, man," Culliver told radio host Artie Lange. "I don't do that. No."

Asked whether there are any gay players on the 49ers, Culliver said, "Nah. We don't got no gay people on the team. You know, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff."

Lange pointed out that gay players might be able to play well, too, but Culliver responded, "Nah. Nah. Can't be... can't... uh... be in the locker room."

Lange then asked whether Culliver thought gay players should stay closeted while playing professionally, and Culliver responded, "Yeah, you gotta, you gotta come out 10 years later after that."

The 49ers had quickly released a statement rejecting Culliver's words, and Culliver apologized in a statement issued Wednesday night.

Culliver repeatedly apologized in a number of different ways.

"That's not what's in my heart," he said.

Culliver spoke about his conversations with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and said he also spoke with many other 49ers officials and his own family members, including his mother.

"I told (Harbaugh) how I feel in my heart. That's not how I feel in my heart," Culliver said.

Culliver said he was just "kidding around" when he made the comments.

"There's not malice in his heart," the coach said. "He's not an ugly person. He's not a discriminatory person. I really believe that this is something that he'll learn and grow from."