CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 09: Brandon Marshall #15 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 9, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Brandon Marshall and Warren Sapp. (Photos by Jonathan Daniel Getty Images, and Kevin Casey/NFLPhotoLibrary)

(CBS) Brandon Marshall said Thursday that he apologized to NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp for comments he made Monday morning in two videos he posted on Twitter.

After Sapp called the Bears wide receiver a “retard” on last Friday’s Dan Patrick Show, Marshall fired back by criticizing the former defensive lineman for being bankrupt, divorced and a bad father.

“I apologized to Warren Sapp for saying that publicly,” Marshall said Thursday at Halas Hall. “I meant everything I said, but where I am at in my life I need to learn from that and keep it privately. It started off as something he said publicly, and I talked to him a little bit privately over email, and it didn’t go the way I wanted it to. So we’ll both learn from this and be better men.”

Marshall said the spat started a year ago after Sterling Sharpe made a comment and he responded. Sapp alluded to that incident when he criticized Marshall last week, although he said it was Shannon Sharpe.

“These kids that play the game today have no relevance for the past. Have no conscious of what it is,” Sapp said. “I mean, Brandon Marshall talking about Shannon Sharpe, who is he to talk? He’s the first 100 catch receiver, back-to-back, retard. What you just did in Denver for three years. You don’t know this? No, of course he doesn’t, because it’s not about Brandon Marshall, it ain’t about (inaudible), it ain’t about the past, it’s about me. It’s about personal success, pay me, and now I’ll think about being a team guy.”

After Marshall got wind of Sapp’s comments Monday, he posted two videos on Twitter that he filmed himself while driving.

“Good morning, world,” Marshall said in the first video. “Listen, I got a very disturbing heads up on something Warren Sapp said. He called me ‘retarded.’ That’s really disappointing to hear that form an NFL Legend. But I’m going to take this as a lesson. I think we all can learn from this. Be very careful who you take advice from. You want to surround yourself with good people, Godly people. Warren Sapp, I can’t go to him and talk about finances because he filed for bankruptcy. I can’t go to him and talk about my marriage because he filed for divorce. I can’t go to him and talk about being a great father, because one day I’m going to have kids, because he’s not active in his children’s life. The lesson that we should all learn here is to surround yourself with good people and be careful who you take counsel from. I’m not saying he’s been there on my side giving me counsel. That’s not a guy that I can go to. Football doesn’t make us. There’s more to life than just playing football. Make sure you have a great balance in your life and surround yourself with good people. Guys like. Warren Sapp, I feel sorry for. Hopefully, one day he’ll change his life. We’ll pray for him. Instead of using words to destroy, he’ll use words to uplift.”

In the second video, Marshall said:

“All we can do is try to encourage him to be better, but at the same time, we’re going to hold you accountable, Warren. Just like I’m held accountable. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and I’m going to continue to make my own mistakes, but I’m never going to put myself on a platform or podium where I think I’m invisible, untouchable. Warren, take this as words of encouragement and not words to criticize you or destroy you. This is out of truth and love.”