Titans rookie Zach Mettenberger sucker-punched at Losers, owner says
Zach Mettenberger has yet to take a hit in the NFL, but he's already proven he can take a punch.
The Titans rookie quarterback was the victim of a sucker punch in the face during a Saturday incident at Losers Most Wanted Bar & Grill on Division Street, according to its owner.
Steve Ford said Monday that the 6-foot-5, 224-pound former LSU star did nothing to provoke another bar patron and did not throw any punches.
"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. "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."
Mettenberger, a sixth-round draft pick, did not require medical attention at the scene. On Sunday night, he cleared up a fan message-board rumor that indicated he'd broken his hand in an incident at a local bar.
"Bogus rumor," Mettenberger said in a direct message via Twitter.
Efforts to reach Mettenberger on Monday were unsuccessful. The Titans declined comment.
Alabama and LSU are SEC West rivals, but the Crimson Tide has won the last three meetings, including the BCS National Championship Game to conclude the 2011 season. LSU defeated Alabama earlier that season, before Mettenberger became the full-time starter in 2012.
Ford, who owns eight bars in Nashville, said Mettenberger and first-round pick Taylor Lewan have visited Losers on numerous occasions and they have "never done anything wrong."
Lewan was also at Losers on Saturday, according to his Twitter feed. The former Michigan tackle is facing three misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly punching an Ohio State fan after last year's Michigan-Ohio State game. The trial is scheduled for October in Michigan during the Titans' bye week.
"They are 23, and they are good kids," Ford said. "Taylor is a good person, and so is Zach. … They just like to go out and try and have a good time, but they don't cause problems. This all started with a 'Roll Tide' because Zach played quarterback at LSU."
Don Aaron, spokesman for the Nashville Metro Police Department, said there were no incident reports for Losers over the weekend. Ford said he grabbed Mettenberger, and the "door guys" at the bar chased down the alleged puncher. Neither the bar nor Mettenberger planned to press charges, Ford said.
"It is what it is and it's over. No one is pressing charges. It shouldn't have happened to begin with. … Zach did not throw one punch, period. I was standing right next to him," Ford said.
"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."
Mettenberger and the rest of the Titans report for training camp on Friday. The first practice is scheduled for 9:20 a.m. Saturday at Saint Thomas Sports Park and is open to the public.