Titans' announcer apologizes for remark

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Pat Ryan, a former Jets quarterback doing radio commentary for the Tennessee Titans, apologized for his on-air remark about ``foreign guys.'' <br><br>``It was just a stupid

Wednesday, November 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Pat Ryan, a former Jets quarterback doing radio commentary for the Tennessee Titans, apologized for his on-air remark about ``foreign guys.''

``It was just a stupid statement,'' Ryan said. ``I wish I could take it back. I'm sorry if it offended anybody. It was just a poor attempt at humor.''

Ryan, working the Tennessee-Jacksonville game Sunday, said veteran football players hate having a hard-fought game come down to ``two foreign guys, the kickers.''

The comment came after Tennessee's Al Del Greco missed a go-ahead 28-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter and as Jacksonville set up its winning 38-yard field goal by Mike Hollis.

Play-by-play man Mike Keith responded by saying neither Del Greco nor Hollis was foreign. To which Ryan said, ``Well, you know what I meant.''

Ryan said Tuesday he immediately knew the comment was inappropriate.

Ryan, a former University of Tennessee quarterback, is in his third year in the job and has generally drawn good reviews.

Larry Stone, the network's executive producer, said Ryan made a mistake.

``I know he's very sorry it's been construed the way it has,'' he said. ``That was certainly not his meaning.''