Jordan Elliott pulled a gun in the Titans facility’s parking lot last week after a practice altercation, a situation that led to the defensive tackle’s release this week. Titans head coach Robert Saleh confirmed the incident on October 21, and it’s a wild story, not just for the immediate danger but for what Saleh had to say about the whole thing.
The Shocking Incident and Saleh’s Perspective
Yeah, you read that right: a gun in the team parking lot. The NFL was notified “promptly” and is reviewing the matter. But Saleh, man, he didn’t just dump Elliott and move on. He went on record, praising the Titans and the league for how they handled it. He called Elliott’s actions “a cry for help,” arguing it wasn’t a criminal act. Saleh was adamant, saying Elliott is a “father, a great husband,” who had “never committed a crime in his entire life.” He asked the big question: “Why would a great man, a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his (expletive) off every day, contributes the way he’s supposed to contribute, is well-liked in the locker room , Why did he go off the rails and grab a gun?” He sees it as “small signs of a cry of help,” a sign that “obviously there’s something greater happening.” Saleh even said the team and NFL did an “outstanding job” pausing and asking those questions to get Elliott the help he needs.
Rules Are Rules, But What’s Next?
Despite Elliott being let go, Saleh didn’t back down on vouching for his character. He’s a veteran D-tackle, seven seasons in the league, and even played for Saleh in San Francisco last year before joining the Titans in free agency. Saleh was clear: “I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character.” He recognized that “rules are rules with regards to guns on property,” but added that “sometimes it’s far greater than the knee-jerk reaction of kicking somebody when they are down.” And get this, Saleh had a direct message for every other team in the NFL. He said, “My message to 31 other teams would be if you need a helluva run-stopping defensive tackle that can help you on a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgement that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act.” That’s a pretty strong statement coming from a head coach after an incident like this, isn’t it?
The Titans are set to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 7. It’ll be interesting to see how the team moves forward from this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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