Jackson apologizes for introducing SWATS owner to Lewis

Cincinnati Bengals assistant Hue Jackson has apologized to the Baltimore Ravens organization for introducing Ray Lewis to Mitch Ross, the co-owner of the company where the linebacker reportedly received the deer antler spray that contained a banned substance.

"First of all, I'm disappointed for the Ravens," Jackson told the Baltimore Sun. "You hate to ever put an organization in that kind of situation. I never knew the young man [Ross] could be that way. I apologize for the whole organization. It should be about the Super Bowl. I met the guy at the [NFL] combine in 2008.

"What happened is you think everybody is doing things for the right reason. I knew there was nothing illegal based on information given by him. He always talked about things, saying they were already approved by the NFL. You live and you learn. I dealt with that two years ago. Anytime it comes up, my name is mentioned."

Lewis, readying for the final game of his career in Super Bowl XLVII, denied allegations that appeared in a Sports Illustrated article about Ross' company SWATS (Sports With Alternatives to Steriods).  The article states that Lewis wanted the spray, which contains IGA-1, a substance banned by the NFL, in order to more quickly recover from a torn triceps injury that he suffered in October.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com