Jeff Fisher: Thanksgiving Day Challenge Should Cost Him Coach of the Year Honors

When Jeff Fisher benched his franchise quarterback and managed to keep his team winning, NFL fans and analysts alike fell in love with his coaching acumen. The Tennessee Titans' 10-0 start to the season made Fisher a runaway favorite for Coach of the Year.

That praise and respect is no longer deserved.

The NFL has placed a premium on upholding the quality of the people that represent their league. Class, integrity, honor, and respect are held to the same standard as physical ability. Sportsmanship has been a priority among league officials, demanding celebrations be placed to a minimum, and all players treat one another with courtesy.

There is absolutely no excuse for a head coach to violate all of those traits. And that's exactly what Jeff Fisher did when he threw the red challenge flag with less than four minutes left while his team held a humiliating 37-point lead over the abysmal Detroit Lions.

Calvin Johnson's sideline catch was upheld, but Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans deserve to lose more than a timeout.

The Detroit Lions are in the middle of one of the worst seasons of their existence—and that's saying a lot. There's no need to prolong the game, stop the clock, and make the officials review a catch that will have no bearing on the outcome.

Even if the Lions marched up the field and managed to score a touchdown, would a 30-point win be any less significant?

This isn't college football. There are no style points to speak of in this league.

"Attitude reflects leadership."

That's a line from Disney's 2000 film Remember the Titans. It's frightening how relevant that quote is to 2008's Tennessee Titans.

While the Tennessee Titans held a 34-point lead, LenDale White broke off for a 25-yard run to set up the final field goal. When the run was over, he felt the need to pound his chest, jump up and down, scream, and cheer.

Seriously? Was this stored up aggression after the New York Jets served up a beating in Nashville? Days earlier, White didn't care—what a difference four days makes.

Your opponent was the Detroit Lions. They find ways to beat themselves! They haven't won a game this season, and the Titans want to challenge catches and celebrate big runs with less than five minutes on the clock.

The NFL is not a league of pity and sympathy, but it is an understood aspect to the game. When it's no longer a competitive contest, it's time to let the clock run out.

Watching the Titans play so aggressively against one of the league's bottom-feeders only made the Jets' victory days earlier even sweeter.

Angel Navedo is the Head Writer at NYJetsFan.com, with frequently updated Jets' and NFL news and opinions, and a premier fan community. He is also the Community Leader for the New York Jets on Bleacher Report.

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