NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans' frustrations over a winless start had been bubbling for a while.
On Sunday, it boiled over into an ugly incident when Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth intentionally stepped on the face of a helmetless Andre Gurode of the Cowboys after Julius Jones' 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Haynesworth apparently made a first move with his foot toward Gurode, then stepped on Gurode's face. He was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and ejected from the game.
Gurode suffered cuts on his forehead and under his left eye that required stitches and experienced blurred vision. He did not return to the game.
After the game, Haynesworth, who could face a fine and suspension, issued an apology in the Titans' locker room.
"What I'd like to say is that I'm very sorry," Haynesworth said. "I apologize to Andre. What I did was disgusting. It's something that should never happen. I mean, I'm not a dirty player. I don't play dirty. I have respect for the game.
"What I feel like is I disgraced the game, disgraced my team and disgraced my last name. ... When I was sitting here in the locker room when the game was going on, I was looking at my phone, which has my kids on it. I don't want them to have my last name and to think their dad is a dirty player, because I don't play that way. ... What I did was disgusting. It doesn't matter what the league does to me."
Gurode was surprised at what happened.
"I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode said.
Kennard McGuire, Gurode's agent, expressed concern.
"I'm going to speak with both teams and the league tomorrow to determine their course of action regarding this incident," McGuire said. "I have tremendous concerns about what happened.
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| AP Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth (92) steps on the head of Andre Gurode after Julius Jones (21) scored a touchdown. |
"Dre still couldn't believe it had happened when I talked to him after the game. I spoke to his mom, who is a nurse, on vacation, and she was talking about having to come home."
Haynesworth has had previous incidents involving his temper. He had several practice-field run-ins with teammates as a rookie in 2002, and in training camp, Haynesworth kicked teammate Justin Hartwig in the chest during a line drill after being beaten on the play.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher promised Haynesworth would be disciplined by the team.
"Albert's actions on the field were unacceptable. ... If the league doesn't handle it appropriately or if the league doesn't handle it, the club will also handle it from a disciplinary standpoint," Fisher said.
Terry McCormick is a free-lance writer based in Nashville, Tenn. Staff Writer Jean-Jacques Taylor contributed to this report.
