Sports Cris Collinsworth apologizes for comment about being 'blown away' by female fans' NFL knowledge

It's been an eventful year behind the microphone for Cris Collinsworth.

Earlier this season, he and "Sunday Night Football" broadcast partner Al Michaels caught flak for making jokes about being required to wear masks throughout their call at Levi Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, at the request of local health officials.

With Michaels off this week, replaced by Mike Tirico, Collinsworth found himself in hot water once again. 

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During the second quarter of the broadcast of Wednesday's Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game, Collinsworth said in reference to Pittsburgh, "Everybody's a fan. In particular, the ladies that I met. They have really specific questions about the game, and I'm like, 'Wow,' you’re just blown away by how strong the fans are here in this town." 

Broncos sending game ball from win over Dolphins to team great entering hospice

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Denver would be sending a game ball from its victory over Miami to team legend Floyd Little, who is entering hospice.The Denver Broncos, who Little played his entire career for (1967-1975), halted the red-hot Miami Dolphins' winning streak Sunday with a 20-13 victory. Afterwards, Broncos coach Vic Fangio said the team would honor one of the franchise's original stars by sending Little and his family a game ball.

Sunday’s NFL contests were replete with demonstrations by players during the national anthem In a discussion of President Trump’s comments about players engaging in anthem protests, analyst Cris Collinsworth said the commander in chief “should apologize ” for using the phrase “son of a bitch.” He added on Twitter, “If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag

Western & Southern spokesman Cris Collinsworth teamed up with CEO John Barrett to offer W&S associates a sneak peek of the 2020 NFL Draft.

© George Bridges, AP NBC "Sunday Night Football" analyst Cris Collinsworth.

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Also Chris Collinsworth was blown away that the women in Pittsburgh had really specific questions about football pic.twitter.com/eskujaRsKn

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 3, 2020

The backlash online was swift, prompting Collinsworth to issue an apology statement posted on Twitter. 

"Today on our broadcast I made reference to a couple of women I met in Pittsburgh who so impressed me with their football knowledge that I wanted to tell their story on the air," Collinsworth wrote. "I know the way I phrased it insulted many. I'm so sorry. What I intended as a compliment to the fans of Pittsburgh, became an insult. 

Denver Broncos QB Drew Lock apologizes for mask violation that landed him on COVID-19 list

All four of the Broncos' quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play against the Saints after several violated NFL COVID-19 protocols on wearing masks."In a controlled and socially distanced area, we let our masking slip for a limited amount of time," Lock wrote Sunday on his verified Twitter account. "An honest mistake, but one I will own. I sincerely apologize and I fully understand why these safety precautions are so important. Doing the right thing for a majority of the time is not good enough.

cris collinsworth . NFL , networks keep glorifying and justifying showboating. Cris Collinsworth apologizes for sad Dak Prescott mistake. November 10, 2019 | 11:19pm. Brace yourselves: The famous Collinsworth slide is not as it appears. Play-by-play man Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth ’s

Cris Collinsworth looks back at how he developed his unique commentating style for football . After being selected No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1983, Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson had the greatest rookie season a running back has ever had, rushing for 1,808 yards and

"I'm sick about insulting any fan, but especially female fans and journalists. I know first hand how much harder they have to work than any of us in this industry. I was wrong and deeply apologize."  

pic.twitter.com/pT5NqD5oDs

— Cris Collinsworth (@CollinsworthPFF) December 3, 2020

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cris Collinsworth apologizes for comment about being 'blown away' by female fans' NFL knowledge