Tennessee Titans’ Albert Haynesworth Stomps Cowboy

By Mark Hoerrner

While Andre Gurode, a center for the Dallas Cowboys, lay on the field after his teammate, Julius Jones, had just walked in a five-yard touchdown to take the game to 20-6 over the Tennessee Titans, Gurode’s helmet was yanked off and someone stomped him in the face twice.

The attacker was Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, a 6’6," 320-lb, 25-year-old veteran player whose record to date has not included a history of on-field violence. In fact, he showed a penitent side after the game.

"I apologize to Andre," Haynesworth told ESPN.com. "What I did was disgusting. It's something that should never happen. I mean, I'm not a dirty player. I don't play dirty. I have respect for the game. What I feel like is I disgraced the game, disgraced my team and disgraced my last name."

Haynesworth, however, did not leave the field quietly. So incensed was the player when Dallas scored that he not only attacked Gurode, but also threw his own helmet to the ground after being called for the stomping by a referee. He was then ejected from the game and left the field after short conversation with Titans coaches.

Gurode sustained considerable facial injuries and did not play for the rest of the game because of injured eyes. During the ensuing medical treatment, he received stitches both above and below his eyes.

"In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode told ESPN.

Gurode indicated that he had not exchanged words with Haynesworth or provoked him in any way.

Haynesworth faces the possibility of suspensions and fines from the National Football League plus sanctions by the Titans.
"It's ridiculous to get to that point. Two back-to-back penalties like that, there's no place for it," said Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher.
Cowboys fans were calling for a 4-6 game suspension for the act on Matt Mosley’s Cowboys blog. One fan was particularly suspicious of Haynesworth’s actions.

"Riiiight, he doesnt play that way, so was it temporary insanity?" said the poster. "I mean wtf was he thinking? The stomp alone was disgusting but to intentionally take the guys helmet off before doing it? Oh right but he doesnt play that way…I just hope it's a 6 game suspension or more."

Despite the loss of Gurode who said that if his eyesight had not been blurry after the attack that he would have returned to the field, Dallas kept their lead and won the game 45-14. Next week, they head to Philadelphia to face Terrell Owens’ former team, the Eagles.