Titans Narrowly Survive Cam Ward’s Massive Rookie Mistake

The Tennessee Titans thankfully avoided disaster when rookie quarterback Cam Ward and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons each escaped unscathed from a heated scuffle on Monday afternoon.

Ward, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, celebrated a touchdown pass to veteran receiver Calvin Ridley by shoving Simmons and doing his trademark “Zombieland” celebration. Simmons, a seven-year vet and two-time second-team All-Pro selection, responded by pushing Ward’s facemask with both hands.

Unsurprisingly, the Titans’ offensive line immediately rushed to Ward’s defense — and for his sake, we hope that they warned him against poking the proverbial 6-foot-4, 305-pound bear.

Ward is absolutely entitled to celebrate a touchdown in practice, especially as Week 1 draws near. The Miami product is less than three weeks away from taking the field in a meaningful NFL game for the first time, and we’re sure that the excitement and hype run through his veins daily.

However, provoking a defender during said celebration is beyond risky. It's flat-out foolish, even more so in 96-degree weather when players are tempted to yell, scream, push, and even rip a helmet off. In fact, Simmons did lose his helmet during Monday’s incident.

Cam Ward Nearly Derailed the Titans’ Season by Provoking Jeffery Simmons

To be clear, we’re not excusing Simmons’ role here. Touching the quarterback in practice is an absolute no-no, and there’s a reason why they wear the red non-contact jersey. A team only goes so far as its quarterback takes them, even if you’re the 2000 Baltimore Ravens or 2015 Denver Broncos.

With that said, why did Ward even take the risk of putting his hands on Simmons? The Titans are incredibly lucky that things didn’t escalate beyond Simmons losing his helmet.