DeSean Jackson Offers Anaemic Apology For Anti-Gay Radio Rant; Contrition Arrives Day After He Claimed Others Were “Trying To Knock Me Off” And That He Was “Standin Tall”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that one day after defending himself on Twitter, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson went back to the social network website to apologize for gay slurs he made on a radio station late last month. This time, however, he avoided claims that others were "trying to knock me off" and offered a more crafted mea culpa. "I am sorry for using words that I know to be hurtful and unacceptable in a recent radio interview," Jackson tweeted Saturday. "I have made a mistake and would like to make it clear that words I used meant no disrespect to the Gay and Lesbian community. Intolerance is unacceptable and I apologize to anyone I have offended." On June 30, Jackson appeared on the Sirius XM hip hop radio show, All Out Show with Rude Jude and Lord Sear. Fielding calls, the receiver had his toughness allegedly questioned by one caller and responded with a multiword gay slur. A week later, Deadspin.com first reported the comments, prompting criticism of Jackson. The 24-year-old presumably shot back at those critics when he wrote the following on Twitter Friday night: "WANNA BRING ME DOWN BUT IM OK!!" Jackson said. "THEY TRYIN KNOCC ME OFF BUT IM STILL ON!! THEY LOOKN 2 TAKE YA DOWN AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER HOW POSITIVE AND WHAT U DO!! ITS ALWAYS AWAY THEY TRY TO GET YA.... IM STANDIN TALL." The Pro Bowl receiver had received positive notice this offseason for his community work, his foundation that fights pancreatic cancer, and his outspokenness against bullying. Jackson has spent most of the offseason in the Los Angeles area. He has one year left on the four-year rookie contract he signed with the Eagles in 2008, and has said he wants an extension and could be in line for one once the NFL lockout is over. The Eagles did not respond to a request for comment. Jackson could be subject to review and discipline from the National Football League once the work stoppage has ended.