Titans Owner Makes Obscene Gestures Toward Bills Sideline

Adams Caught Flipping "The Bird" At Bills Sideline Twice During Yesterday's Game

Titans Owner Bud Adams during yesterday's Bills-Titans game "found a new way to draw the spotlight to his franchise when he was caught not once, but twice flashing a set of middle fingers at the Buffalo Bills sideline," according to Charles Robinson of YAHOO SPORTS. The Nashville Tennessean initially reported that Adams was "seen standing in what appears to be a luxury suite, flashing his middle fingers." Robinson notes Adams watched part of Sunday's game with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and if Goodell is "serious about cracking down on things that reflect badly on the NFL's shield, how could he not slap Adams on the wrist?" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/16). FANHOUSE.com's Clay Travis wrote "presumably, shooting the bird at opposing teams violates one of Roger Goodell's NFL rules." And Goodell now "finds himself in the unique position of actually witnessing behavior that he might be required to fine" (FANHOUSE.com, 11/15). SI.com's Peter King writes Adams "better get fined about five times" the $20,000 fine Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco received last week. King: "That is to say, it had better not be a wrist-slap" (SI.com, 11/16).

ADAMS APOLOGIZES: The AP reports Adams today issued a statement "apologizing for getting caught up in the excitement of the win." Adams said, "I do realize that those types of things shouldn't happen. I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL. I obviously have a great deal of respect for RALPH WILSON and the history we have shared. I also understand there will probably be league discipline for my actions and I will accept those" (AP, 11/16).

FAN OUTREACH: In Nashville, Jim Wyatt notes Goodell "ate breakfast with the 86-year-old Adams and watched a lot of the Titans-Bills game from the owner's suite at LP Field." The trip marked Goodell's "first trip to LP Field since January's Titans-Ravens playoff game, and at one point he posted a message on Twitter saying how much he was enjoying his visit." Titans fan Lisa Hayes, who "had an empty seat next to her because her husband was unable to attend, Tweeted back asking the commissioner to join her in Section 102," and "to the surprise of everyone in the section, Goodell showed up." Hayes said in an e-mail, "It seems like everyone he spoke to thanked him and told him what a great job he was doing. ... He graciously posed for photos and signed everything" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/16).