Cowher Defends the Towel – Fisher and Titans Think “No Big Deal”

If you saw the last few minutes of Sunday’s 31-14 Titans win over Steelers Sunday, you likely saw a number of Titans players stomping on the Steelers signature “Terrible Towels” that seem to follow them wherever they play – home or away.

Among those taking part in the act were Keith Bulluck, LenDale White and Javon Kearse. Monday it was still a hot topic, more so after Titans coach Jeff Fisher had his say on the subject, Bullock spoke on it on ESPN, and former Steelers coach and now CBS commentator Bill Cowher spoke on it as well.

Fisher basically dismissed the subject, saying that he didn’t have an issue with the players having a little fun at the Steelers expense. “Why would it be a big deal? That if we play [the Steelers] again, they’ll play harder? I don’t think so,” Fisher told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. “They always play hard.

“I mean, I know we weren’t happy to have 10,000 people in our stadium waving those yellow towels. It’s a tremendous commentary on the great fan base the Steelers have, but I’m sure our guys didn’t like it. They’re a good football team. They have our respect, and I’m sure we have their respect. But this isn’t a big deal to me.”

It was a big deal to a couple of Steelers players, who have already said they will keep it in the back of their minds for a possible rematch in the playoffs. Their former coach Cowher was also not a happy camper when he saw the Titans players taking part in the act during the final moments of the big Tennessee victory.

Cowher admonished White by saying, “You’ve got to learn. … I wouldn’t do this, I wouldn’t go there,” and said Bulluck should know better because “you are a veteran, Bulluck.” Bulluck had his say Monday afternoon on ESPN, and tried to downplay the incident by saying that’s just how they play ball.

“No disrespect to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization or the players on that team,” Bulluck said Monday on ESPN First Take. “It’s not anything personal or disrespectful. It’s just the attitude you’ve got to take” in a game of such magnitude.

And with that, we shall see if the Titans and Steelers meet again, and if they do so, you have to wonder if Mike Tomlin makes the footage of the Titans having fun at the Steelers expense a focal point of some pregame video shown the night before.