On Thursday, former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said hundreds of domestic violence incidents went unpunished during his 30 years in the NFL.

On Friday, Angelo said he “embellished” that number, that his words were taken out of context by a USA Today reporter and that he was “blindsided.”

“I was talking in general over 30 years and way things have evolved and (how) things looked at as venial (sins) back then are mortal now,” Angelo told the Chicago Tribune. “I wouldn’t have said the number myself. When [USA Today’s Josh Peter] brought it up I didn’t stop him. I said I’ve heard 100s of stories. I was embellishing a point. … That’s not what I said. There’s no way I’d ever say anything like that.”

After hearing Angel’s initial comments about hundreds of domestic violence incidents, the Bears issued a statement.

“We were surprised by Jerry’s comments and do not know what he is referring to.”

Angelo was the Bears general manager from 2001 to 2011. He started working in the NFL as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys in 1980.

“I made a mistake,” Angelo told USA Today. “I was human. I was part of it. I’m not proud of it.

“We knew it was wrong. … For whatever reason, it just kind of got glossed over. I’m no psychiatrist, so I can’t really get into what that part of it is. I’m just telling you how I was. I’ve got to look at myself first. And I was part of that, but I didn’t stand alone.”

Angelo said he would typically ask a player if everyone was OK and then move on.

The league has come under fire since video surfaced of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his wife last February in a hotel elevator. Commissioner Roger Goodell initially suspended Rice for two games before suspending him indefinitely.

“Short of killing somebody, there is absolutely nothing worse than abusing a child or a woman. Nothing,” Angelo said. “And I think everybody understands that now much, much better. We’ll be better for it. Everybody will be better. The players, the NFL, everybody.”