On Sunday, the 49ers built a 14-0 lead over the Falcons. Eventually, the Falcons erased the deficit and won the game.
After the game, 49ers coach Mike Singletary skipped the traditional handshake with the other coach.
On Wednesday, he admitted that he had dissed Smith. “That was poor sportsmanship on my behalf,” Singletary said, according to David White of the San Francisco Chronicle.
But Singletary didn’t apologize for the situation, and he hasn’t contacted Smith to discuss it.
“I don’t know if any of you guys ever get ticked,” Singletary said. “I’d be the first to tell my kid that was wrong. I should have went over and shook his hand. I chose not to for a number of reasons.”
So he was wrong to do it, but he’s not apologizing for it?
“I was disappointed,” Singletary said, “and that was a very honest feeling after the game.”
We’re not sure what to make of this. On one hand, we respect the honesty. On the other hand, we’re not sure that being honest but not truly contrite is the right approach. Though it’s better than being dishonest and not truly contrite, Singletary seems to be saying that, under the same circumstances, he’d do it again.