Tennessee Titans rookie and former LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger was the victim of a sucker-punching at a bar in Nashville, its owner told USA Today in a report.
Steve Ford, owner of Losers Most Wanted Bar & Grill, said Mettenberger did nothing to provoke another bar patron, but the 6-5, 224-pound quarterback ended up getting punched in the face. He did not require medical attention.
"Here's the truth: The guy said something about 'Roll Tide!' to Zach, and Zach turned around and said 'Good luck with that,' " Ford said on Monday. "And the guy's buddy then sucker-punched Zach.
"I promise you that Mettenberger did not throw a punch. He didn't do anything. The guy sucker-punched him in the eye, that's the bottom line, and the guy that punched him started running out the door. My door guys had to chase him down."
The Titans did not comment on the situation Monday.
Mettenberger, who was drafted by the Titans in the sixth-round of the NFL Draft, denied the rumor that he broke his hand in the accident at the bar. Mettenberger called it a "bogus rumor," according to USA Today.
Ford says that Mettenberger and Titans' first-rounder Taylor Lewan have "never done anything wrong" at his bar.
Though the "door guys" did catch the sucker-puncher, Mettenberger doesn't plan to press any charges against the fan.
"It is what it is and it's over. No one is pressing charges," Ford said. "It shouldn't have happened to begin with. The guy said 'Roll Tide.' He tried to provoke him. But Zach did not throw one punch, period. I was standing right next to him.
"I know in 15 years being in the bar business, I know that everyone is trying to provoke someone who is a moving billboard. I don't care if they are country music, a rapper, football players or whatever. Everybody is trying to push somebody's buttons. It is a lawsuit jungle out there."
Looks like we could see Mettenberger reporting to Titans training camp on Friday with a black eye.
