NBC’s "Today" show wants people to know that Al Roker’s quip about the show throwing someone "under the bus" wasn’t meant as a reference to departed co-host Ann Curry, reports the Associated Press.

As previously reported, some interpreted Al Roker’s comment during an interview with members of the U.S. women’s rowing team as a dig at NBC, and possibly “Today” co-host Matt Lauer, for pushing out Curry as co-host of "Today" after a year-long ratings decline.

Lauer had asked the team about the tradition of throwing the coxswain in the water, when Roker added, "Which is different than our tradition, which is you throw one of us under the bus, but that’s another story."

"Today" pointed out that Roker and Lauer have joked about throwing someone under the bus at least 27 times during the past two years, according to the AP article.

The awkwardness in the latest incident came when both Lauer and new co-host Savannah Guthrie — Curry’s replacement — responded to Roker’s quip with apparent disapproval, saying, “Mr. Roker!”

The video can be seen here.