Shortly after the Patriots drafted kicker Justin Rohrwasser within the fifth spherical of this yr’s NFL Draft, folks found a troubling tattoo on his arm.
The tattoo circled in white within the picture above represents “The Three Percenters” — a right-wing militia group which advocates for particular person gun rights and is against federal authorities involvement in native affairs. Rohrwasser’s tattoo drew loads of criticism on-line, together with from The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill, who tweeted, “Patriots kicker is a white supremacist. My unhealthy, he tends to love white supremacist issues.”
In his post-draft interview with reporters, Rohrwasser briefly discussed his tattoo, claiming he received it 5 years beneath his perception it represented a navy image. He mentioned “it might be coated.” However many needed him to speak intimately concerning the tattoo contemplating what it represents, and Rohrwasser did that in an interview with CBS Boston.
“We had been celebrating and hugging [after being drafted]. So completely satisfied. I went on to Twitter and I noticed the tweet. And I noticed that somebody had taken an image of me and put it with my tattoo and linking me to some horrific occasions — clearly Charlottesville and these horrible issues.”
Rohrwasser mentioned at no level throughout his time at Marshall did he understand what the tattoo was linked to. He mentioned he solely discovered Saturday after he grew to become a speaking level on Twitter. He says he received the tattoo when he was 18 years outdated (he is at the moment 23).
And regardless of a earlier interview the place he mentioned all of his tattoos are “random,” he defined that this one did have which means when he received it.
“It was described to me as the proportion of colonists that rose up in opposition to the federal government of the British,” he mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘Wow, that’s such an American sentiment, a patriotic sentiment.’ Coming from a navy household, I believed that actually spoke to me. I all the time was proud to be an American. I am very proud to be an American.”
The Patriots rookie additionally added that he will not simply be protecting up the tattoo, he’ll be eradicating it utterly.
“As quickly as I noticed what it was linked to on Saturday, it was precisely that point I knew I needed to get it completely taken off my physique,” he mentioned. “I mentioned cowl it up, however I need to get it faraway from my physique. It is shameful that I had it on there ignorantly.
“I am sorry for all my family and friends that should defend me. Placing them in that compromising place is without doubt one of the greatest regrets I am going to ever have. To them, I am sorry. I’ll study from this. I’ll take possession of it. This isn’t who I’m. It doesn’t matter what, that is not who I’m. Hopefully, you’ll all discover that out.”
