Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was released on Tuesday, October 20, after he grabbed his gun during an argument with a teammate at the team’s facility last week.
After a verbal dispute with offensive lineman JC Latham on Thursday, October 15, Elliott, 28, went to get a gun from his car parked in the players’ lot, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The gun ultimately never left Elliott’s parking spot.
Titans head coach Robert Saleh confirmed the incident during a press conference on Wednesday, October 21, explaining that defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was responsible for calming tensions.
“[Elliott] had a terrible lapse in judgment that I recognize as a call for help more than a criminal act,” Saleh, 47, told reporters. “It’s unfortunate the way it went down. As far as Jordan’s concerned and the locker room and all that, I think people see it differently here than the knee-jerk reaction of the world.”
Saleh credited the Titans and the NFL for their response to the incident, arguing both “did an outstanding job with regards to pausing, which I think everyone needs to do in this situation is pause with regard to the news that Jordan had a gun.”
“The reason why I think the NFL and the organization did an outstanding job is because this is a man who’s a father, a great husband,” Saleh continued. “He’s never committed a crime in his entire life, and he pulled a gun in the parking lot.”
Saleh called Elliott “a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his ass off every day, contributes the way he’s supposed to contribute” and maintained he’s “well-liked in the locker room.”
Latham explained he had never had any previous altercations with Elliott and is hoping to reach out to him privately, according to ESPN.
“I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character,” Saleh said. “Unfortunately, rules are rules with regard to guns on property, and sometimes it’s far greater than the knee-jerk reaction of kicking somebody when they’re down.”
The coach concluded his remarks on Wednesday with a message for the rest of the teams in the league.
“If you need a hell of a run-stopping D-tackle that can help you on a playoff run, give me a call,” Saleh insisted. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man.”
