Jimmy Rollins is still talking.

He’s not apologizing for calling Philly fans front-runners. He thinks he was misunderstood.

I’m not so sure.

Rollins was back on “The Best Damn Sports Show” yesterday to clarify the “front-runner” comments he made on Wednesday that ignited a firestorm 3,000 miles away back in Philly.

Fans here are passionate, demanding, and yes, critical. But front-runners? Not in any way I’ve ever known. Fans here are with their teams win or lose. That’s why we remain hopeful even though it’s been a quarter century since our last championship.

Rollins wanted people to know that the way most of us perceived his comments is not what he meant. He didn’t mean we bail on the team. He apparently was referring to booing the team – and players – when they’re not doing well.

To be honest with you, I’ve about come to the end of wondering exactly why it is that our teams do not win championships. There’s a part of me that is at least willing to consider the fact that the suffocating atmosphere that pervades pro sports in this town simply consumes some athletes.

Maybe it’s starting to get to Rollins. Something’s been haywire this year. He’s just not the same player he was last year while waging a valiant MVP campaign.

Now he dogs it on fly balls, fails to show up for games on time, and seems anything but the team leader he proclaims himself to be.

Then again, maybe that’s exactly what’s going on. Maybe Rollins took the opportunity while the team was 3,000 miles away to set up one of those classic “us vs. them” stands, with the players determined to win just so they can turn around and shove it in the fans’ faces.

If that’s the case, it’s not exactly working.

Take a glance at the standings today. Yes, those are your second-place Phillies. They went meekly again last night, getting swept by the Dodgers. The Phils got exactly two baserunners against the mighty Hiroki Kuroda on the way to a 3-1 loss. With a Mets win, the New Yorkers now are in first alone. The Phils are a game back, with the Marlins breathing down their necks.

And Mr. Rollins? He backed up Wednesday night’s 0-for-5 with a ditto last night, going 0-for-4. Now it’s on to sunny San Diego.

Who knows what Rollins will say today. Or when he gets back to town on Tuesday.

Here’s a suggestion, Jimmy. We love you. We want the J-Roll from last year, not the Flay-Roll we’re seeing this year.

Oh, and one other thing. Buy some earplugs.