DETROIT, MI - Former Detroit News columnist Rob Parker made inappropriate commentsabout Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, ESPN said Thursday.

Parker, who lives in Detroit, questioned how authentically black Griffin is on ESPN's "First Take" TV show.

"He's black, he does his thing, but he's not really down with the cause," Parker said. He's not one of us. He's kind of black, but he's not really like the kind of guy you really want to hang out with."

Parker went on to say he wanted to find out more about Griffin. "I don't know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancee. Then there was all this talk about he's a Republican, which there's no information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue."

Here's Parker on First Take:

Parker's comments drew strong rebuke on Twitter, many saying the sports commentator is an embarrassment to the city of Detroit. While dozens, even hundreds, of people called out Parker, a relatively few people defended the remarks.

Houston Texans' star running back Arian Foster and Sports Illustrated scribe Peter King are among those criticizing Parker.

For his part, Parker took to Twitter to defend his comments and assure followers he'll be back on First Take. ESPN didn't seem quite so sure. A spokesman said they were reviewing next steps.

Parker resigned from the Detroit News in 2008 after asking then head coach Rod Marinelli about his daughter's marriage to then defensive coordinator Joe Barry. The paper pulled him as a columnist and Parker quit.

Along with contributions to ESPN, Parker also appears on Detroit's WDIV Local 4 Sports Final Edition.