Philadelphia ? Allen Iverson backed off from comments criticizing Philadelphia police, saying he respects police officers and only has problems with just a few individuals on the force.

Iverson said that his remarks last month to two Philadelphia newspapers that he “could wind up dead tomorrow” if a rogue officer wanted him dead referred to only a few unidentified officers.

“I understand that police officers have very difficult jobs,” Iverson said in the statement released by the team. “And I believe that the majority of police officers are very professional and caring individuals. Unfortunately, it’s not clear that my feelings were directed at just a very few individuals.”

The statement came after Robert Eddis, president of the Philadelphia lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, said about 40 officers were boycotting a team-sponsored law enforcement appreciation night because of Iverson’s comments.

Last month’s interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News included Iverson’s first public comments about his off-the-court troubles last summer. Iverson and his uncle were accused of barging into an apartment on July 3 and threatening the two men while Iverson looked for his wife. He was charged with several felonies, but the charges were eventually dropped when a witness would not cooperate.

“Last summer I was falsely accused of several serious offenses,” Iverson said in a statement. “While investigating the case, and before the hearing, my lawyers learned of an incident where several police officers publicly celebrated my arrest and toasted me being convicted.”