Texas defensive end Breckyn Hager apologized on Monday for making comments about wanting to injure Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes when the teams play on Saturday.
Hager spoke with the media on Monday and said his mentality approaching the Red Raiders QB was to try injuring him.
Breckyn Hager's defensive mentality against Texas Tech: "Injure that quarterback"
— Claire Brandon (@JClaireBrandon) October 31, 2016
In context: Breckyn Hager also said "we've gotta get after that QB. We've gotta get sacks, pressure, turnovers, takeaways."
— Claire Brandon (@JClaireBrandon) October 31, 2016
Unsurprisingly, Hager’s comments made headlines, even though the DE said he didn’t mean he literally wanted to injure Mahomes.
Regardless of the intent or context of the comments, Texas and Hager recognized how bad the remarks sound, so they sent an apology.
Texas has released a statement with Breckyn Hager apologizing for his "injure that quarterback" comments. pic.twitter.com/VBkq1TtJDE
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) October 31, 2016
“I want to apologize for what I said earlier today at our press conference,” Hager said in a statement issued by the Texas athletic department. “I play hard and it’s our team’s goal to get pressure on the quarterback, hit him and disrupt the offense. When I go out there I want to play my most aggressive game, but I’m not trying to do anything to physically injure someone.
“I have too much respect for Patrick Mahomes and every quarterback I play against to ever do that. That’s not what I’m about, not the way I was raised and not the way we play football at Texas. Our coaches don’t teach us that or coach us to injure other players in any way. It was a really poor choice of words, and I truly regret it. My point should have been that it’s our job as defensive linemen to make our presence known and affect the quarterback. Life is bigger than a game, and I’m still learning how to be a better player on and off the field. I hope everyone will accept my apology for what I said.”
Hager, a sophomore, has 43 tackles — eight for a loss, including five sacks — this season for the Longhorns.
