Jordan Elliott got cut after a truly wild incident: he went to his car and grabbed a gun following an argument with teammate JC Latham last Thursday. It’s the kind of locker room nightmare you dread hearing about, and it led to his release from the Titans earlier this week. Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, to his immense credit, stepped in to de-escalate the whole thing, which Titans head coach Robert Saleh rightly called “really admirable” because who knows how bad it could have gotten.
The Gun, The Argument, And Franklin-Myers’ Heroics
Seriously, a gun in the locker room environment? After an argument? It’s a terrifying thought. Elliott was released because rules are rules, especially when it comes to firearms on team property. The timeline shows a bit of a pause between the incident and Tuesday’s release, and Saleh explained that delay was all about making sure Elliott got “all the help he needs.” You can’t fault them for that. This isn’t just about a player breaking a rule, it’s about a situation that clearly went off the rails and needed a measured response beyond just the immediate firing.
Saleh’s Unexpected Take: A “Call For Help”
But here’s the kicker, the part that makes you pause and think: Robert Saleh spent a huge chunk of his Wednesday presser talking about this not as a criminal act, but as a “terrible lapse in judgment” that he recognizes as a “call for help.” He actually complimented the team and the league, saying they did “an outstanding job” pausing to ask *why* Elliott was in that headspace. Saleh even referenced cases of NFL players taking their own lives, stressing that he wants Elliott to “get all the help he needs.” He stood firm on Jordan’s character, saying this moment was “out of character for the person that he knows.” Saleh wasn’t saying Elliott was suicidal, but he was clearly pointing to something “greater happening” that led to such a drastic decision.
A Plea For A Second Chance
Saleh clearly believes in Elliott as a person and as a player. He said, “I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character.” Despite the ironclad rules about guns, Saleh wants to make sure this isn’t Elliott’s final chapter in the NFL. He even put out a direct message to all 31 other teams: “if you need a helluva runstopping D-tackle that can help you on a playoff run, give me a call.” He offered to tell them “everything you need to know about him” because he believes Elliott “deserves another chance.” It’s a powerful statement from a coach, acknowledging the severity of the act but advocating for the person behind it. The rules were broken, and Elliott paid the price with his job, but Saleh’s message is that the story shouldn’t end there. It’s a rough situation, and now the focus shifts to whether Elliott can get that help and if another team will listen to Saleh’s earnest plea.
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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