Everyone remembers the battles of 2007 between San Diego and Tennessee; physical, hard hitting affairs. The UT's Tim Sullivan recounted the discord, yesterday (or maybe the day before):
Let's not mince words....the Titans roster is chock full of dickheads and they like to get under your skin none more so than Finnegan and Mawae*. On Christmas night, I look forward to seeing the Chargers exhibit the discipline that they have all year by continuing to be one of the least penalized teams in the league. Zulu Cthulhu is going to get his yards so it is essential that the Titans are not given any extras in the form of penalty yards.Pro football never was a dainty business. To watch it on a regular basis is to marvel that some of these men are still able to walk. Yet the rules of engagement — written and unwritten — are fairly explicit concerning acceptable conduct after the referee whistles a play dead or maneuvers made for the perceived purpose of inflicting injury.
Though it’s unfair to generalize about an entire team, the Titans’ reputation is not entirely unwarranted. They rank in the top quarter of the NFL in both personal fouls committed (8) and roughing the passer penalties (four). Sports Illustrated’s September poll of the NFL’s dirtiest players showed Mawae fifth and Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan sixth.
“You can either look at it as a cheap shot or the way football is played,” Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd said. “I’ve seen (Finnegan) playing like that for years. You’ve got to be prepared for it because that’s the way he plays. You can’t be (standing) around by the pile (because) he’ll come in and BOOM.”
Last month, Finnegan was fined in consecutive weeks for a facemasking penalty against San Francisco and two separate infractions against Buffalo.
“I don’t know if they’re the dirtiest team,” Merriman said, “but I know they’ve got some dirty guys. You’ve got a number of guys who go over and beyond.
“There’s a line of being physical between the whistles and doing something extra after the whistle or away from the play. I’ve never hit a guy after the whistle in my career. It’s not going to start this week.”
With an opportunity to secure a first-round playoff bye, the Chargers cannot afford to become preoccupied with payback.
Discipline gentlemen. Play it fair, hard nosed and between the whistles....but if the game gets out of hand then it's time for payback. Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth...in the name of the Baby Jesus.
An epic holiday battle!
* I would also count Lendale White amongst this collection of a$$-hats......except he's fat and they really don't let him touch the field these days.
At least that fat bastard Lineman doesn't play for them anymore. He is in football purgatory (better known as Washington Redskin Land)
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