NEW ORLEANS — A day after anti-homosexual comments made by 49ers CB Chris Culliver came out, he spoke contritely about what he had said.

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone,” Culliver said Thursday to a horde of media members surrounding him right from the start of the players’ final session with the media this week before Super Bowl XLVII. “They were very ugly comments. Hopefully, I learn and grow from this experience and this situation."

Head coach Jim Harbaugh echoed a team-issued statement from the day before.

"I reject what he said," Harbaugh said. "That's not something that reflects the way the organization feels (or) the way the rest of the players feel."

Culliver told comedian Artie Lange — a credentialed media member this week — on Tuesday that he would not welcome a homosexual on the team. On Thursday, Culliver reversed field on his comments, saying that he would welcome a homosexual teammate and that “everyone is treated equally in (the 49ers’) locker room.”

The 49ers did not say whether Culliver would be disciplined for his comments. Harbaugh said Culliver pledged to him that he would learn from the experience.

"I don't do the gay guys, man. I don't do that," Culliver told Lange. "Ain't got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff."

A nickel back for the 49ers, Culliver is in his second season out of South Carolina. He has started six games this season, playing all 16, and recording two regular-season INTs. His pick against the Falcons in the NFC title game helped spur their comeback and advancement to the Super Bowl.

San Francisco’s prominent LGBT community is outraged. The team issued a release Wednesday renouncing Culliver’s comments, and he released a statement through the team apologizing.