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Haynesworth stomp stuns Fisher
Disciplinary action could exceed NFL's
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif]Titans Coach Jeff Fisher, left, argues with Albert Haynesworth after Haynesworth was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. JAE S. LEE / THE TENNESSEAN[/FONT]
By DAVID CLIMER
Senior Writer
Published: Monday, 10/02/06 Albert Haynesworth's kick to the head of a helmet-less Dallas player likely will result in action from the NFL office that could include a fine, a suspension or both.
Meanwhile, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher called Haynesworth's action "unacceptable," and left open the possibility that the team could add disciplinary action of its own.
"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. " … There is no place for that type of conduct. I apologize to the Cowboys, to the player and the Cowboys organization for his conduct."
The play occurred with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter when Haynesworth stomped on the head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode, whose helmet had come off during or after a 5-yard touchdown run by Julius Jones.
Gurode later said he was kicked twice, opening a gash on his forehead and a cut beneath his eye. Both cuts required stitches.
"We had run a play and my helmet came off," Gurode said. "They said he kicked my head and his shoe just came down over my face. He kicked me twice.
"I got stitches above my forehead and right beneath my eye. In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face."
Gurode called Haynesworth's actions "pretty blatant."
"If it was, the commissioner will deal with it," he said.
Haynesworth was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. When he complained to officials and threw his helmet to the ground, he drew another 15-yard penalty and was kicked out of the game.
A contrite Haynesworth addressed reporters in the Titans locker room and issued an apology for his conduct, which he called "disgusting" and "senseless."
He also hinted that he expected action from the NFL.
"I deserve it because I did it and it's wrong," he said. "That's not how it's supposed to be played. …
"I definitely let the team down because I got kicked out. I'm not apologizing because I got caught. I'm apologizing because of what I did. Even if I didn't get caught, it still makes me sick."
Fox Sports sideline reporter and analyst Tony Siragusa, a former defensive tackle for the Ravens, criticized Haynesworth during the telecast and later called the action "cowardly" and "an embarrassment."
"I played the position for a long time and that's not how you handle something like that," Siragusa said. "If you want to take a shot at somebody, you do it during the play.
"If you want to hit somebody, you let him protect himself. If a guy is on the ground and his helmet's off — that's inexcusable." •
Published: Monday, 10/02/06
Disciplinary action could exceed NFL's
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif]Titans Coach Jeff Fisher, left, argues with Albert Haynesworth after Haynesworth was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. JAE S. LEE / THE TENNESSEAN[/FONT]
By DAVID CLIMER
Senior Writer
Published: Monday, 10/02/06 Albert Haynesworth's kick to the head of a helmet-less Dallas player likely will result in action from the NFL office that could include a fine, a suspension or both.
Meanwhile, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher called Haynesworth's action "unacceptable," and left open the possibility that the team could add disciplinary action of its own.
"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. " … There is no place for that type of conduct. I apologize to the Cowboys, to the player and the Cowboys organization for his conduct."
The play occurred with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter when Haynesworth stomped on the head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode, whose helmet had come off during or after a 5-yard touchdown run by Julius Jones.
Gurode later said he was kicked twice, opening a gash on his forehead and a cut beneath his eye. Both cuts required stitches.
"We had run a play and my helmet came off," Gurode said. "They said he kicked my head and his shoe just came down over my face. He kicked me twice.
"I got stitches above my forehead and right beneath my eye. In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face."
Gurode called Haynesworth's actions "pretty blatant."
"If it was, the commissioner will deal with it," he said.
Haynesworth was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. When he complained to officials and threw his helmet to the ground, he drew another 15-yard penalty and was kicked out of the game.
A contrite Haynesworth addressed reporters in the Titans locker room and issued an apology for his conduct, which he called "disgusting" and "senseless."
He also hinted that he expected action from the NFL.
"I deserve it because I did it and it's wrong," he said. "That's not how it's supposed to be played. …
"I definitely let the team down because I got kicked out. I'm not apologizing because I got caught. I'm apologizing because of what I did. Even if I didn't get caught, it still makes me sick."
Fox Sports sideline reporter and analyst Tony Siragusa, a former defensive tackle for the Ravens, criticized Haynesworth during the telecast and later called the action "cowardly" and "an embarrassment."
"I played the position for a long time and that's not how you handle something like that," Siragusa said. "If you want to take a shot at somebody, you do it during the play.
"If you want to hit somebody, you let him protect himself. If a guy is on the ground and his helmet's off — that's inexcusable." •
Published: Monday, 10/02/06
