New York, Dec 22 (ANI):After publicly blaming Jessica Simpson for Tony Romo's poor playing performance, Dallas Cowboys star Terrell Owens has cleared the air by saying that he was only joking.

Owens sparked a controversy when he said Simpson was a distraction for the Cowboys quarterback, and indicated he wasn't the only player on the National Football League team to feel that way.

"Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium," Owens said at the time.

However, he has taken a U-turn now, saying the remarks were light-hearted, reports the New York Daily News.

He said he had already apologized to Romo, and hoped to have a chance to talk to Simpson, too.

"I understand how everybody was looking at Jessica Simpson as a distraction, and that's definitely not how I saw it. [Romo] had a bad game. I don't think she had anything to do with it," Owens said.

"I tried to get (Romo) to call her so I can explain to her that she doesn't really know me and that I can be funny. And that everything I say, the media will take it and run with it. It's not a big deal. I will try to rectify the situation between her and I," he added.

Owens' remarks about Simpson came in the wake of the Cowboys' National Football League loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec 16. (ANI)