Boomer Esiason Apologizes For Dumb C-Section Comments About Daniel Murphy and Paternity Leave

Boomer Esiason, the former NFL quarterback and one half of the popular Boomer & Carton WFAN/CBS morning radio duo, offered up what seemed like a sincere apology Friday morning for his insensitive (and dumb) comments about Daniel Murphy taking paternity leave. Earlier in the week Esiason suggested Tori Murphy should’ve had a C-section in spring training in order to ensure her husband wouldn’t miss any playing time to witness the birth of their first child earlier in the week. The comments, along with similar ones made by WFAN colleague Mike Francesa, have drawn loads of criticism across the media.

Newsday’s incomparable media reporter Neil Best transcribed Esiason’s apology, which he continually repeated throughout Friday’s program. If you want to here audio of the apology, CBS has it here.

"“I want to say again on this radio show that in no way shape or form was I advocating anything for anybody to do, was not telling women what to do with their bodies. I would never do that. That’s their decisions. That’s their life and they know their bodies better than I do. “And the other thing that I felt really bad about it is that Daniel Murphy and Tori Murphy were dragged into a conversation and their whole life was exposed and it shouldn’t have been and that is my fault. That is my fault for uttering the word ‘C-section’ on this radio station and it all of a sudden put their lives under a spotlight, and for that I truly apologize. “I reached out to Daniel through intermediaries over there at the Mets, and to his credit, he answered all of the questions yesterday. I’m sorry he had to go through that. No man should have to go through that, and certainly Daniel Murphy who we both [Esiason and co-host Craig Carton] admire as a baseball player as much as anybody else. “All I can say is I truly, truly feel terrible about what I put them through, so for that I certainly apologize.”"

Meanwhile anyone holding their breath for a full-formed apology in this vein from Francesa is going to run out of oxygen awfully quick.