Taylor Lewan says what Broncos fans wish Garett Bolles would say
Nov 11, 2019, 9:28 AM
After the Titans upset the Chiefs on Sunday, their locker room should’ve been a festive place. A 35-32 victory over one of the best teams in the AFC certainly provided plenty of reasons to celebrate.
But not everyone was in a jovial mood after the win. Left tackle Taylor Lewan went on a media rant after the game, putting himself squarely in the crosshairs of his own criticism.
"My penalties are a f—ing problem. … I am completely screwing the team …"
—Titans OL Taylor Lewan went off on himself. pic.twitter.com/6hpFrs4jw3
— ESPN (@espn) November 11, 2019
The video has gone viral, as sports fans far and wide are applauding Lewan for his self-awareness and candor. In just six games this season, the left tackle has been flagged for a team-high nine penalties. On Sunday, he was called for three more infractions, including back-to-back plays in the second half. Of late, he seems to be a magnet for the referee’s attention.
Does that sound like anyone else, Broncos Country?
So far this season, Garett Bolles has been flagged 11 times. Five have been accepted, while six have been declined. Hearing “holding, offense, number 72” seems like a weekly occurrence in Denver.
That’s been frustrating, as the penalties become drive killers for a Broncos offense that has struggled to score points most of the season. But the ire directed at Bolles goes beyond just the physical mistakes on the field. The left tackle’s lack of awareness about the situation is also irksome.
It’s one thing to repeatedly get flagged. It’s another to act as though the referees are treating you unfairly, to react to each infraction like it’s a stunning turn of events.
Given that Bolles was flagged 14 times as a rookie, and 14 more times last season, it would seem like he’d be aware of what’s going on. The left tackle has to know that he’s hurting the team, committing the same mistake over and over and over again, and it needs to stop.
But that’s not what Broncos Country hears from him. There’s no Lewan-like mea culpa after a flag-filled game.
Just once, wouldn’t it be nice to hear something like this out of Bolles?
“Before we even start this whole thing, my penalties are a (expletive) problem. And it’s killing the team. I know that. You guys know that. No one needs to call me out on anything, because I got it. I am completely screwing the team with the amount of penalties I’ve had. It’s crazy. It’s horrible. I cannot get penalties. I’m sorry, there’s no need to ask about it because I know I’m an absolute liability when it comes to penalties.”
One of the keys to change is admitting there’s a problem. Taylor Lewan gets that; Garett Bolles needs to, as well.
