Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady began Thursday’s press conference by apologizing for comparing playing an NFL season to military deployment.

Brady’s mea culpa came three days after he was discussing a work-life balance with Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant on his “Let’s Go” podcast. The 45-year-old Brady was referencing on how one must limit other aspects of life in order to focus on winning a championship.

“I almost look at like a football season like you’re going away on deployment in the military,” Brady said Monday. “It’s like, ‘Man, here I go again.’ There’s only one way to do it.”

Brady was quick to apologize on Thursday.

“Before we start can I say one thing? Earlier this week I made a statement about playing football and the military, and it was a very poor choice of words,” Brady said. “I just want to express to any (one) out there that people may have taken it in a certain way. So, I apologize.”

When pressed to explain what he meant with the comparison, Brady went a different route.

“To be honest I don’t really want to expand on it too much,” Brady said. “I have a tremendous amount of gratitude to everyone who served. In the end, we play a game, and the military is defending our country. It’s two different things and I shouldn’t have made the comparison.”

–Field Level Media