As he continues to recover from cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made another stop on his triumphant victory tour Sunday as he attended Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
But despite the positivity that has surrounded him since his health scare on Jan. 2, Hamlin suddenly found himself at the center of some slight controversy due to his Super Bowl attire, something that former NFL MVP running back Adrian Peterson made sure didn't go unnoticed.
Hamlin sported a jacket that featured the image of an altered and color-filled head of Jesus Christ on the front and an image of the crucifix on the back. While Christian-themed clothing would not normally be seen as disrespectful to most, Peterson took offense to the way Jesus' image was displayed on the jacket.
"You should be thanking God son!" Peterson wrote on Instagram. "This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but c'mon man! I find this disrespectful."
Here's an image of the jacket, courtesy of zingarokk.com:
Hamlin hasn't shied away from sharing his faith throughout his recovery, thanking God on multiple occasions since speaking publicly for the first time recently. But considering the timing of Hamlin's recovery and sudden rise to fame, Peterson's feelings regarding the jacket can be seen as understandable.
However, the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history said Monday that he has since spoken with Hamlin and understands that there was no "ill intent."
"After speaking with Damar, I have an understanding that it didn’t come from a place of ill intent," Peterson wrote on Instagram. " ... I feel like there are a lot people, young and old, looking up to you and with power and influence comes great responsibility. I apologize for offending you, I just felt offended in that moment as a man who loves and respects our Lord and Savior, Yeshua."
Hamlin has yet to come out with a formal apology, though maybe his discussion with Peterson was all that was needed to get some closure on the situation.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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