A low hit by Olivier Vernon of the Dolphins on Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota in the second quarter Sunday resulted in a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer.
After the game, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said it was much worse than that.
“I think it was done with the idea of trying to hurt our quarterback,” Whisenhunt said. “That’s bulls--t football.”
Whisenhunt said Vernon should have been ejected from the game.
Titans tackle Taylor Lewan had his own colorful adjectives to describe the play. In the other postgame locker room Vernon insisted that he’s not a dirty player.
Mariota was attended to by trainers on the field but stayed in the game. The Dolphins’ defense dominated en route to a 38-10 victory.
Vernon was flagged again for roughing the passer later in the game.