Smith is the former Lions player presumed dead in a boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico.
On Monday's "Valenti and Foster Show" with co-host and Detroit News reporter Terry Foster, Valenti read instant messages from listeners over the air, including one joke about Smith and another about a capsized boat.
Valenti opened Wednesday's show by referencing "a very, very, very stupid decision on my part -- probably the dumbest, most reprehensible decision I've made in my radio career. We were doing instant feedback and I put something flat-out on that never should've gotten on. No one else deserves to get blamed but me."
Added Valenti: "This is on me. It was an instant feedback from a listener in regards to, at that point, the ongoing Corey Smith situation. And I just offer you my sincerest apologies. It was completely ridiculous to put it on the air. And again, it comes to me. The only thing I can promise you as my listeners, it won't happen again. Otherwise, I tell you right now, I don't deserve to be around. So I humbly apologize. It's an egregious decision, and we move forward."
Debbie Kenyon, the station's marketing manager, said Wednesday she and program director Tom Bigby personally apologized to the Lions organization. But Kenyon declined to elaborate on any possible disciplinary action the station was taking with regard to Valenti.
"We've addressed the issue with Mike, and he's apologizing on the air," Kenyon said. "We do agree that the comment was inappropriate."
Earlier Wednesday, Lions president Tom Lewand publicly apologized on behalf of the team, noting that The Ticket is the Lions' flagship radio station.
"There was some reading of jokes and some incredibly inappropriate comments that were made," Lewand said at the conclusion of a press briefing in Allen Park. "And on behalf of our organization, I feel obligated to apologize to the Smith family on behalf of our flagship station.
"The kind of behavior that was exhibited on their airwaves on Monday was nothing short of reprehensible. It's not something we'll condone, it's not something the Detroit Lions organization wants to be a part of, and I'm hopeful they'll take the appropriate steps to ensure that it doesn't happen again."
Valenti declined to comment Wednesday beyond what he said on the air.
The Ticket is also heard on AM station WXYT (1270).
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