Tennessee Titans: Dion Lewis fined for unnecessary roughness vs. Patriots
Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis has been fined by the league for unnecessary roughness after he lowered his helmet during a play against the New England Patriots.
Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis has been fined by the league for unnecessary roughness in the Preseason Week 2 game against the New England Patriots.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Lewis is being fined $28,075 by the league for lowering his helmet on a play against the Pats.
While we’re not sure exactly what play it was, Lewis was not called for any unnecessary roughness penalties during the game, which makes the fine surprising to an extent.
The Titans took on the Patriots in a preseason game on August 17th, with the Patriots coming out on top, 22-17. Lewis carried the ball four times for 16 yards, and caught one pass for nine yards in the contest.
Going into the game there was some bad blood between the two teams, as a spat occurred during the week when the Titans and Patriots held joint practices prior to the contest. The two players involved were A.J. Brown and Stephon Gilmore.
There was also more bad blood stemming from comments Lewis made about the Patriots following the Titans’ 34-10 rout of them in Week 10 of 2018.
Lewis called the Patriots cheap and hinted the players on the team were soft, which sparked some controversy at the time.
“Hell yeah it’s personal,” Lewis said in 2018. “That’s what happens when you go cheap. You get your ass kicked.”
“I didn’t have to prove anything,” he said. “I know I can play. I just had to let our team know that these guys are beatable…I know those guys. I know that you (can) be physical with them and let ’em have it and they’ll fold.”
Lewis later went on to walk those comments back somewhat, and then downplayed them after the preseason game in 2019.
“I’m a feisty guy, everybody knows that,” the former Patriots back explained. “I have to be that way; I’m 5′ 7″. I have to carry an edge, that’s just how I am.”
That’s not to say Lewis lowered his helmet on purpose, but the fine is an interesting occurrence considering the backstory between Lewis and his former team.