Bengals' Marvin Lewis apologizes for calling Johnny Manziel a 'midget'

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis issued an apology on Tuesday for calling Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel "a midget."

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis issued an apology on Tuesday for calling Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel "a midget."

Lewis' comment came during a radio interview on Monday, when Lewis was asked about preparing for the possibility of 5-foot-11 Manziel starting when the Browns host the Bengals on Sunday.

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Lewis' apology:

"I'm aware that my comment on local radio last night was offensive to people of short stature and to their families and friends. It was thoughtless on my part to use the word I did, and not excusable, and I greatly regret it. I have since read about this issue on the Little People of America website. I understand it better, and as I have apologized to Johnny Manziel and the Cleveland Browns community, I offer the same to all others who I offended, and I pledge that I will learn from this. I hope that my mistake and the resultant publicity may serve at least to help others not make similar insensitive comments in the future."

Manziel will reportedly make his first NFL start against Cincinnati on Sunday, replacing veteran Brian Hoyer. Hoyer started the Browns previous game against the Bengals on Nov. 6, which Cleveland won 24-3.

- Molly Geary