Apology for Vikings-Saints `Katrina¿ Metaphor

CHICAGO - Chicago Bears Hall of Fame defensive tackle Dan Hampton has apologized for distastefully referencing Hurricane Katrina in his comments while previewing the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints NFL opener this Thursday.

On the Pro Football Weekly television show, Hampton said "the Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina."

Hampton issued an apology of ProFootballWeekly.com Monday night:
 

’I would like to offer my most sincere apologies to everyone who was offended in any way by my reference to Hurricane Katrina in our most recent "Pro Football Weekly" TV show.

It was a spur-of-the-moment comment intended strictly as a metaphor for the storm-like intensity I believe the Vikings will bring to their rematch with the Saints, and it simply never occurred to me that anyone could read anything more than that into it.

I have nothing but the deepest respect and greatest admiration for the people of the Gulf Coast, and I am horrified that even one of you would think I would make light of the terror Katrina wrought, and that I have clearly offended so many of you.

I realize now it was a terrible choice of words, and I offer absolutely no excuses. I screwed up, about as badly as I could, and I am deeply and profoundly sorry.’