Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan got called for a crucial penalty on the final drive of Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Raiders when he was judged to make a late launch into a pile of Raiders at the end of a catch by Tajae Sharpe that put the Titans on the three-yard-line.
The unnecessary roughness call pushed the Titans back 15 yards, something Lewan apologized to his teammates for after the game while also saying that he “was just doing what I thought was right.” Lewan was also spotted having a conversation with umpire Dan Ferrell while walking off the field during the game. He confirmed to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com that he “absolutely” said some things to Ferrell before the official told him to “f--- off.”
“Honestly, he said some things, and whatever,” Lewan said. “It is what it is. The game’s over and regardless of what he said, it’s not gonna change the game or what happened. There’s nothing I can really say about it.”
Lewan was also the subject of a tweet from ESPN college football broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit that called him “an absolute fraud” and a "#FakeToughGuy.” Lewan, a Michigan alum, didn’t take a swing back at the Ohio State alum.
“It’s not my place to comment on that,” Lewan said. “It’s his prerogative. I’m playing in the NFL. He has his job, I have mine, and whether it’s right, wrong or not, it’s not my place to comment on that.”
The Titans appeared to get into the end zone shortly after Lewan’s penalty, although the score was waved off after Andre Johnson was flagged for offensive pass interference.