updated 1:08 p.m. ET July 22, 2008

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has issued a statement after angering many Ohioans with anti-Ohio State comments he made while speaking to a Los Angeles radio station.

Palmer, who played for USC in college, was asked last Thursday about the upcoming USC-Ohio State matchup and told L.A. radio station KLAC, " I cannot stand the Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team, it drives me absolutely nuts. We got Keith Rivers out there and we got Frostee Rucker, we finally got a couple other 'SC guys. It's amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the crap I got to put up with being back there.

"I just can't wait for two years from now when 'SC comes to the 'Shoe and I get to, hopefully have a home game that weekend and I can go out there and watch us pound on them on their own turf and kind of put all the talk to rest, because I'm really getting sick of it. I just can't wait for this game to get here so they can come to the Coliseum and experience L.A. and get an old fashioned, Pac 10 butt-whooping and go back to the Big Ten."

Many Bengals fans who are also Ohio State fans were offended by Palmer's remarks, and the team issued a statement Tuesday.

In a statement, Palmer said, "I'm a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too.

"I hope they all understand I'm just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that it's all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don't have a real rivalry unless both sides are great teams."

This will be Palmer's sixth season in the NFL. Last season he threw for 4,131 yards and 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, and the Bengals went 7-9.

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