New Patriots Kicker Will Cover Controversial Tattoo

Justin Rohrwasser's tattoo has been adopted by a right-wing militia group
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 26, 2020 5:32 AM CDT
New Patriots Kicker Will Cover Controversial Tattoo
Marshall quarterback Isaiah Green, left, celebrates with kicker Justin Rohrwasser (16) after Rohrwasser's 53-yard winning field goal against Western Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va.   (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)

New Patriots kicker Justin Rohrwasser says a tattoo on his arm is not representative of a loosely organized right-wing militia group that has adopted the symbol. Rohrwasser, who played at Rhode Island and Marshall, was taken 159th overall in the fifth round of the draft Saturday. He said in a conference call with reporters that he got the tattoo as a teenager because he has a lot of family members in the military, reports the AP. "Obviously, it evolved into something that I do not want to represent and when I look back at it, I should have done way more research before I put any mark or symbol on my body," Rohrwasser tells USA Today. "It is not something I ever want to represent, so it will be covered." The tattoo involves the roman numerals III surrounded by stars, per USA Today.

On its website, the right-wing Three Percenters group says it isn’t an anti-government militia but “we will defend ourselves when necessary.” The Three Percenters derived the name from the belief that just 3% of the colonists rose up to fight the British. They have vowed to resist any government that infringes on the US Constitution. According to an interview on Marshall’s Herdzone.com last year Rohrwasser described his tattoos, which include phrases like “Liberty or death” and “Don’t tread on me” as well as an American flag and one for the Dave Matthews Band, as “all random.” Rohrwasser was drafted as a replacement for Patriots all-time leading scorer Stephen Gostkowski, who was released last month. Gostkowski made the 2010s All-Decade team, is a two-time All-Pro, and member of three of the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning teams. (More Three Percenter stories.)

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