Kirk Herbstreit rips ‘absolute fraud’ Taylor Lewan after late flag

It’s safe to assume Kirk Herbstreit isn’t a Taylor Lewan fan.

https://twitter.com/KirkHerbstreit/status/780136122429022208

During Sunday’s Titans-Raiders match with Tennessee storming up the field trailing 17-10, a potential 1st-and-goal play was negated after a flag was thrown against Lewan for unnecessary roughness. Instead of prime field position and a chance to tie the game, the Titans lost after the 15-yard penalty put them in tougher field position.

Lewan’s penalty was boneheaded and proved costly, but Herbstreit’s comments fall on the side of unnecessary. The hate may stem from one of college football’s biggest rivalries, as Herbstreit quarterbacked Ohio State from 1989-93, while Lewan was a star tackle for the Wolverines over four seasons.

It’s likely Lewan’s past legal issues were top of mind for Herbstreit when he sent the tweet, as Lewan was sentenced to 12 months probation after pleading guilty to assaulting some Buckeye fans hours after Michigan had loss to Ohio State. Rivalries! Lewan’s checkered past also include reported threats made to a women who alleged sexual assault by a Michigan teammate (who was subsequently booted off the team).

Perhaps, Herbstreit was just venting some frustration as a Titans fan. Either way, it seems he went a bit overboard in his comments.

The Titans could have won Sunday’s Titans-Raiders matchup without Lewan’s poorly timed penalty. But, does the boneheaded play make him a “fraud,” “pathetic” “loafer” and a “fake tough guy?” Not entirely. Lewan received an unnecessary roughness penalty, but Herebstreit deserves a similar penalty for his comments.

[For The Win]