Immediately after the Patriots selected Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser in the fifth round Saturday, it was discovered he has a number of tattoos, including one associated with "The Three Percenters" -- a right-wing militia group.
On a conference call following the pick, he explained he got it as a teenager and thought it was a military support symbol, but that he would cover it up.
Speaking to WBZ-TV in Boston Monday, it appears now he will get it removed and got emotional talking about it.
"As soon as I saw what it was linked to on Saturday, it was exactly that time I knew I had to get it totally taken off my body," he said. "I said cover it up (on the conference call), but I want to get it removed from my body. It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly.
"I'm sorry for all my (friends) and family that have to defend me. Putting them in that compromising position is one of the biggest regrets I'll ever have. To them, I'm sorry. I'm going to learn from this. I'm going to take ownership of it. This is not who I am. No matter what, that's not who I am. Hopefully, you will all find that out."
Rohrwasser added: "It was described to me as the percentage of colonists that rose up against the government of the British. I was like, 'Wow, that is such an American sentiment, a patriotic sentiment.' Coming from a military family, I thought that really spoke to me. I always was proud to be an American. I'm very proud to be an American."
After spending two years at the University of Rhode Island, he transferred to Marshall. He said it was never an issue at the school.
"No, never," he said. "The first time I found out what it was linked to was on Saturday. That's why it was so surprising. ... We were celebrating and hugging (on Saturday). So happy. I went on to Twitter. I saw that someone had taken a picture of me and put it with my tattoo and linking me to some horrific events -- obviously Charlottesville and these horrible things."
Rohrwasser was the first kicker selected in the draft and will be given the chance to replace Stephen Gostkowski.
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