Howard backtracks on comments about lack of passion in USMNT

Ex-Everton and current Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard expanded on his recent remarks regarding the commitment levels of some of the players on the U.S. men's national team.

"Jurgen Klinsmann had a project to unearth talent around the world that had American roots," Howard told USA Today earlier this week. "But having American roots doesn’t mean you are passionate about playing for that country.”

Related: Pride or prejudice: Howard misguided in slagging foreign-born U.S. players

But following these statements, the 37-year-old revealed that his comments did not only apply to members of the squad with dual nationality.

"Some of them are (dual nationals), but I think others are players who have their roots here in America too," Howard told Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC. "It's not exclusive to them because some of our dual nationals have been brilliant.

"Jermaine Jones has been a rock for our national team. He's been one of the heartbeats," Howard explained. "Fabian Johnson has been brilliant for us. So, no, that wasn't aimed at any one person in particular."

Howard said that, in his opinion, the fact that the commitment levels - or lack thereof - were never addressed by Jurgen Klinsmann was the biggest downfall of his spell at the helm of the national team.

"I think that's an issue," Howard said on the topic of commitment. "I think any time you have a team that's disconnected - no matter what the issue is that brings that disconnect - when you have that, there's no way you can all be pulling in the same direction."

Howard alluded to his experience and went on to describe how it's not the first time he has felt a disconnect on the training ground.

"I'm an old man and I've seen a lot of things, and what it seemed like to me was there was a lack of passion and desire by certain players to run through a wall," Howard said. "The national team is my heart and soul. If you take that away from me, you take a piece of my heart.