NEW YORK >> The “Today” show says Al Roker and Matt Lauer have jokingly bantered about throwing someone “under the bus” at least 27 times over the past two years.

Why does that matter? Because the most recent time Roker said it, on Thursday, it was widely interpreted as a dig against his own show for the way it removed co-host Ann Curry less than two months ago.

Lauer was speaking with members of the U.S. women’s rowing team and its tradition of throwing the coxswain in the water after winning a race, and he joked that in New York it would mean a toss into the Hudson River. Roker said it was different than “Today” tradition, “which is to throw one of us under the bus.”

Roker’s colleagues appeared taken aback, but spokeswoman Megan Kopf said it was not a reference to Curry, pointing to the frequency of “under the bus” banter.