After getting an ‘earful’ from his mother, a contrite Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota apologized to reporters for being ‘rude and inappropriate’ in the wake of Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
‘Real quick, I want to say I am sorry for the way I handled the press conference,’ Mariota said Wednesday. ‘I know not everybody that was there is here. But I was rude and inappropriate, and I just want to say I apologize for it.’
Of course, what one considers rude or inappropriate is subjective.
On Sunday, after completing just 16 of 31 passes for 159 yards and two interceptions in a 12-7 defeat, an undeniably upset Mariota admitted that he was ‘just pissed off.’
Besides that, it’s hard to say what he was apologizing for.
Marcus Mariota completed just 16 of 31 passes for 159 yards and two interceptions in a 12-7 defeat loss to the Cardinals. ‘I’ve been hurting our team,’ he said at the press conference
In fact, one reporter can be heard saying ‘I’m not speaking for everybody but I did not find it rude or inappropriate.’
‘I appreciate that,’ said Mariota.
‘It’s funny, because I got an earful of it from my mom, so that’s how I was raised and I appreciate you guys understanding,’ he added.
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) sacks Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota
Mariota also suffered a sprained knee in the game and may require hamstring or ankle surgery over the off-season.
‘I’ve been hurting our team,’ he said at Sunday’s press conference. ‘I have to find ways to get better.
‘I expect myself to do my job and just taking care of the football and converting third downs,’ added Mariota. ‘I haven’t been up to par, and I’ve got to be better.’
He’s also regressed as a passer. After posting a 95.6 quarterback rating by throwing 26 touchdowns and only nine interceptions last season, Mariota’s rating has dipped to 76.9 this year as he’s tossed 14 picks and just 10 touchdowns.
Mariota was not intercepted a week ago against Houston, but he threw two against Indianapolis and four against Pittsburgh in the two games before that.
Overall, the third-year quarterback has thrown for 10 touchdowns and been intercepted 14 times this season.
Tramon Williams got the first interception and Josh Bynes the second.
Mariota said both were his fault, although receiver Rishard Matthews also took the blame for the first one.