For the first time ever, the NFL this week suspended a player for the rest of the season due to a dirty hit on the field: Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict. 

In a recent matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, Burfict initiated a blatant helmet-to-helmet hit against tight end Jack Doyle, which resulted in an immediate ejection from the game for unnecessary roughness. Despite his absence, the Raiders ended up winning 31-24.

The Oakland Raiders linebacker was not only suspended for the remained of the year: he will also forfeit $1.16 million dollars in salary. However, this is not the first time Burfict has had to pay for his dirty hits on the field.

Burfict’s headhunting history goes back to his college football days where, despite his talent, his dirty play led him to be undrafted out of Arizona State. 

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Burfict also previously received three-game suspensions in both the 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons for dirty headhunting hits while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The NFL clearly factored in the linebacker’s history and saw that he had not learned from his mistakes or prior suspensions. Thus, the league felt the need to send him to the sidelines for the entire year instead.

In a public statement, the NFL elaborated:

“Vontaze Burfict of the Oakland Raiders has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2019 season, as well as any postseason games, for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules, including in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. 

“NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Article 10, which states that: ‘It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent.’ 

“In his letter to Burfict, Runyan wrote: ‘There were no mitigating circumstances on this play. Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided. For your actions, you were penalized and disqualified from the game. Following each of your previous rule violations, you were warned by me and each of the jointly-appointed appeal officers that future violations would result in escalated accountability measures. However, you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designed to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk.’

“Under the collective bargaining agreement, the suspension may be appealed within three business days. Appeals are heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.”

Will Burfict be able to turn it around next season and remedy his dirty hits or will this pattern of behavior continue to plague the various teams he has played for?

Draymond Green was ejected from Golden State’s 125-105 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, and the Warriors forward had no desire to speak with reporters afterwards.

Draymond Green ejection news

All-Star Green — who will be 28 in March — earned two technical fouls in the loss: first for arguing with a referee at the end of the first half, then for throwing the ball at a referee (he didn’t actually hit the official) after being called for an offensive foul early in the fourth quarter.

Green now has three career ejections, and is in second place in the NBA in this category, just one behind teammate Kevin Durant.  

With the two fouls he drew on Tuesday, Green also moved into first place for the most technicals this season with 13. Should he draw three more technical fouls, Green would be suspended one game.

After he drew his first foul, Green angrily argued with the referee while pointing to his bloodied mouth that he claimed was caused by Russell Westbrook striking him. However, the female official evidently didn’t want to discuss anything with him.

It seems that the official who ejected Green handed the forward his second technical foul after Green aggressively pushed the Thunder’s Spanish shooting guard Alex Abrines before catching a ball from his teammate.

Just like after his first foul, Green appeared surprised by the call and raised his hands in disbelief before leaving the court.

After the game, Green refused to speak to reporters, and when asked if he had anything to say, simply quipped: “Nah, I’m going to save my money.”

Green had five points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and five turnovers in 31 minutes.

When Steve Kerr realized Green’s mouth was bleeding after his first foul, the Warriors coach walked to the scorer’s table to speak with referee Ken Mauer, with whom Kerr talked for about five minutes.

“At halftime, I was asking Kenny if he was allowed to look at that play,” Kerr said. “I didn’t know the rule, so I was just looking for clarification because Draymond came off the floor with a bloody mouth. So I asked Kenny if they were allowed to look at it afterwards.”

The Warriors were upset with several calls made Tuesday evening, but one in particular drew major ire from fans at Oracle Arena.

In the third quarter, Westbrook drove to the basket and tripped over his own feet before falling on the floor. Official Lauren Holtkamp, who gave Green his first foul, called a foul on Andre Iguodala. 

The fans in Oakland began chanting, “Ref, you suck.”

Holtkamp also called a goaltending violation on Durant after it appeared he got a clean block on Westbrook.

Steph Curry was asked about the game’s officiating, and the two-time MVP said he didn’t believe the referees were most at fault for the Warriors’ loss.

“It was a rough night,” he said. “But if we honestly are going to say they’re the reason we lost the game tonight, I think that’s off. We’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and see what we can do to control the game, because we know that’s stuff that we can’t control. As much as we want to complain in the moment or try to argue with the refs about what they should have seen and calls not going our way, as we go down the stretch of the season and in playoffs, if that’s something that’s going to get under our skin consistently and impact our performance, we’re going to be in trouble.

“But I’ve got faith that we can overcome a tough night with the whistle and still be who we are. But, tonight was a rough one.”

Kerr echoed Curry’s sentiments.

Green recently made headlines when he responded to reporters about a question regarding comedian Dave Chappelle mentioning him in his stand-up special “Equanimity,” which was released on Netflix on Dec. 31.

In the special, Chappelle jokes about the absurdity of Rachel Dolezal, the former president of the NAACP’s Spokane, Washington chapter who caused controversy in 2015 when it was revealed she was a white woman passing herself off as black, among other lies she told.

Chappelle, who is black, joked that if anybody wanted his support, they would have to change their name to the “blackest” name he’s ever heard. Chappelle then riffs, “You’re gonna have to change your name to ‘Draymond Green,'” a line that drew raucous laughter.

Chappelle then added as part of his routine: “If you type ‘Draymond Green’ into AirBnB… that s— will log off automatically.”

Green told reporters he saw the clip and thought it was funny, but then added he wouldn’t try to get back at Chappelle in any way because he knew it would be a “losing battle” against a comic he called one of the “greats.”

Just days after “Equanimity” was released, the Warriors star did, however, tweet a captioned photo of Chappelle delivering the joke and said: “@DaveChappelle C’mon, bro, I just named my son ‘Draymond’ hahaha.”

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 02: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the first half while taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 2, 2016 in Oakland, California.

LeBron James was ejected from a game for the first time in his 14-year career on Tuesday night, a 108-97 Cleveland Cavaliers home victory over the Miami Heat.

LeBron James ejection social media reaction

The star forward, who was playing in his 1,082nd career game, subsequently took to social media, particularly Instagram, to express how he was feeling after being thrown out. James said in a post-game interview on Tuesday that he was very upset with the way he has been officiated this season.

Here’s what the King had to say following the ejection:

And here is one of the Instagram posts he shared. (New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who is out for this season with an injury, also posted a photo of James)

Also, here is a report of referee Kane Fitzgerald’s reasoning for why he ejected the King:

The Cavaliers (14-7) next play at Atlanta on Thursday night. Cleveland has won nine straight games.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues after being ejected in the second half by referee Kane Fitzgerald #5 while playing the Miami Heat at Quicken Loans Arena on November 28, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 108-97. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

LeBron James has another first to add to his career, though it is not a positive one.

LeBron James ejection news

The King was ejected for the first time in his career late in the third quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 108-97 home victory over the Miami Heat (10-10) on Tuesday night.

James — who was playing in his 1,082nd career game — was tossed with 1:59 left in the third and Cleveland holding a comfortable 93-70 lead. After obtaining a steal, the 15th-year forward dribbled upcourt and missed a layup then argued with referee Kane Fitzgerald that Heat forward James Johnson fouled him on the attempt. Fitzgerald gave James a technical foul and threw him out of the game.

“I got fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him, all the way until I got to the rim,” James — a 13-time NBA All-Star who will be 33 next month — said of the sequence leading up to his ejection, which came against his former team. “I said what I had to say and then I moved on, but he decided I should get [ejected]. It is what it is. We got the win, and that’s what’s most important.”

Fitzgerald explained the reasoning behind his decision to a pool reporter after the game.

“It was a culmination of a couple different acts,” Fitzgerald said. “Immediately after the no-call, he turned and threw an air punch directly at me, and then he aggressively charged at me, and then he used vulgarity in my ear a few times.”

Regarding whether anything occurred between him and James before his ejection, Fitzgerald said, “Nothing at all, nothing that I’m aware of.”

At the time of the ejection, James had 21 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 12 rebounds and six assists, but had attempted just one free throw.

“I think I’m one of the league leaders in points in the paint. I drive just as much as anybody. At this point, it’s almost like they’re trying to turn me into a jump shooter,” James said of how he has been officiated this season. “I can’t be a jump shooter.”

James entered Tuesday with 176 (paint) shots within 3 feet of the basket, behind only Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averages three free throw attempts more per game than James.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue did not protest Fitzgerald’s call to eject James.

“Yup,” Lue said. “Should have got thrown out. Yup. … I really don’t know what he said. He got kicked out. Want me to go against the ref? No, he got thrown out. He’s out.”

Dwyane Wade said he was shocked to see James sparring with the official so much.

“I mean, I just thought it was quick,” Wade said. “I mean, a player like him, you give him the benefit of the doubt. He says something, you give him a tech, kind of walk away and let him calm down. That’s it. That’s all I got on that.”

New York Knicks center Enes Kanter — who fought with James earlier this month after the latter called himself “the King of New York” — may fuel James’ anger even more after this tweet he posted about the ejection:

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the only active players who have played more games than James without being ejected are the San Antonio Spurs‘ Tony Parker (1,144) and Pau Gasol (1,139).

The Cavs (14-7, 3rd in Eastern Conference) now have nine straight wins. They next visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues after being ejected in the second half by referee Kane Fitzgerald #5 while playing the Miami Heat at Quicken Loans Arena on November 28, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 108-97. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Fans sitting atop the Green Monster at Fenway Park held a sign that read “Racism is as American as baseball” during a game between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night, and were promptly removed from the stadium.

Fenway Park Racism Banner News

“During the fourth inning of tonight’s game, four fans unfurled a banner over the left field wall in violation of the club’s policy prohibiting signs of any kind to be hung or affixed to the ballpark,” the Red Sox said in a statement. “The individuals involved were escorted out of Fenway Park.”

The fans explained who they were and their intent in an interview with The Washington Post. 

“We are a group of white anti-racist protesters,” the fans told The Post. “We want to remind everyone that just as baseball is fundamental to American culture and history, so too is racism. White people need to wake up to this reality before white supremacy can truly be dismantled. We urge anyone who is interested in learning more or taking action to contact their local racial justice organization.”

One member of the group of fans who sat above the left field wall spoke to the paper on the condition of anonymity, and said there was a fifth member who was “doing documentation across the stadium.” The person said the quintet was “not associated with any particular organization although all of us do work as organizers in various Boston groups that combat white supremacy and racism.”

That same member said the group chose Fenway Park as a venue to relay their message “in an attempt to reach as many people as possible.”

According to ESPN, umpire Joe West met with Boston police and other local officials to discuss having the fans ejected. Some fans booed as the group — whose protest was also reportedly inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement — was thrown out.

Red Sox manager John Farrell commented on the banner following his team’s 7-3 loss.

“Saw it was draped over the Monster. From the dugout, you see someone expressing their opinion and it looked like it was withdrawn relatively quick.”

Outfielder Mookie Betts said he believed the time and place for such a statement was poorly selected.

“There’s no place for that,” he said. “That’s for another day, though.”

The group denied any affiliation with Antifa or Antifa Boston, which earlier claimed responsibility for the move on Twitter.

Boston is a city that has garnered a reputation for being racist and generally prejudiced, in sports and in other fields. In May, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones had objects thrown at him by fans at Fenway Park and was also subjected to racial slurs like the ‘N word.’ The Red Sox later apologized to Jones and the Orioles and said they would subsequently begin handing down harsh punishments to anyone who engaged in that type of behavior, and even Boston officials like mayor Marty Walsh released statements about the incident.

The Red Sox were also the last MLB team to integrate African-American players like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. Red Sox owner John Henry recently said he was hoping to change the name of Yawkey Way, a street outside Fenway Park named after former owner Tom Yawkey, who was associated with racist practices during his time in charge of the team from 1933 to 1976 .

Following the Jones incident, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said his office would seek to implement league-wide “guidelines” for handling such episodes.

The Red Sox (82-63) are first in the American League East, three games ahead of the second-place New York Yankees.

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 13: A banner with the message ‘Racism is as American as baseball’ is draped over the Green Monster during the fourth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park on September 13, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Thursday night’s Game 3 at Verizon Center between the Wizards and Celtics featured a fight between two Kellys, as Washington’s Kelly Oubre Jr. was tossed for pushing Boston’s Kelly Olynyk to the floor in retaliation for an aggressive screen.

Wizards’ Kelly Oubre Ejected from Game 3 Win vs Celtics

Early in the second quarter, as Washington led 45-24, center Olynyk knocked down small forward Oubre while playing defense, and the Wizards star took it personally. Oubre, a 21-year-old former first-round pick, fell to the court in pain and, after the whistle blew, raced from the top of the three-point arch to the baseline and evaded a referee to violently shove Olynyk to the ground, sending the Celtics star sliding backwards.

A giant all-out brawl between both teams ensued, as even coaches and officials became involved, including some that attempted to stop Oubre from exacting revenge on Olynyk but were a second too late. Oubre was called for a flagrant 2 foul and thrown out following a review, while Olynyk was simply penalized with an offensive foul. Fans chanted Oubre’s name during the review.

When Olynyk was asked if he was surprised when Oubre ran over to him, the Celtics big man simply said, “Yeah, man. I didn’t expect it.” However, Olynyk didn’t offer any further comment. With regards to a question about whether or not Oubre deserved a suspension, Olynyk simply said it was “up to other people to determine.”

The Wizards won the game 116-89 thanks to a 22-0 first-quarter run led by John Wall, Otto Porter and Bojan Bogdanovic. In the fourth quarter of the game, which included eight combined technical fouls, Washington’s Brandon Jennings was also ejected, as was the Celtics’ Terry Rozier. 

Oubre could be suspended for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Washington on Sunday night. The Celtics lead the second-round series 2-1. Skip Bayless called Olynyk’s screen a “borderline cheap-shot,” but said it was permissible. Bayless also conceded that Oubre’s foul was much worse.

Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, who scored 13 points on Thursday, stated after the game that there has been “bad blood” between the two squads dating back to the regular season, but that his team must now focus on winning Game 4.

“Whatever bad blood we’ve had in the season, it’s carried over to the playoffs,” Thomas said. “We’re just competing and trying to win, and they did that today. We took care of business at home, now we just gotta try to get Game 4.”

This certainly showed during the regular season, as the Celtics and Wizards recorded a combined 16 technical fouls in their four games before the playoffs.

Clearly, there is a trend in sports right now involving heated rivalries between Boston and Washington-area teams. The Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball have also exchanged a series of verbal and physical jabs this week.

Also on Thursday, the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 115-104 at Oracle Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals and improve to 6-0 in the playoffs. Game 3 is Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the second quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Serge Ibaka scored 16 points for the Toronto Raptors in their 122-120 home victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, but it was his fight with Robin Lopez that stood out.

Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez Ejected After Fight In Raptors’ Win vs Bulls

The Raptors forward and Bulls center were both ejected in the third quarter after exchanging punches.

Following a Jimmy Butler 3-pointer with 3:58 left in the third quarter, giving the Bulls a 16-point lead, Ibaka grabbed the ball and swung his elbow in Lopez’s direction. Lopez countered by knocking the ball out of his opponent’s hand, and then all hell broke loose.

The Chicago guard threw a punch that barely missed Ibaka’s head, and the Raptors forward responded with a jab of his own that also hit Lopez only slightly. Teammates and coaches from both squads rushed into the brawl to separate the two players, but by then the officials had determined, following a long review, that Lopez and Ibaka had done enough to merit being thrown out.

Besides each of the two players receiving “fighting fouls,” Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic and Raptors assistant coach Jamaal Magloire received offsetting technical fouls after getting into a shoving match after the altercation.

“What happened is we were playing physical basketball and he got frustrated,” Ibaka, who was tossed for the fourth time in his career, explained to reporters after the game. “That thing happened where you just start pushing each other, like always happens when there’s contact, and then he throws a punch. You know, like a man, I had to defend myself. I’m not just going to be out there and watch a man like him punch me and just walk away. I had to defend myself.”

Lopez, meanwhile, received his sixth career ejection. He said he expects to be suspended for the melee.

”I think it was a really physical game, physical game for everybody,” said Lopez. ”Just kind of hit the flashpoint.”

Lopez added that he felt he “had three guys” on him, and that “nobody had any hold” on Ibaka.

Lopez’s twin brother, Brook, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, said he had heard even before he beat Detroit at the buzzer Tuesday about what happened in Toronto. However, he did not side with his brother Robin, as many may have expected.

“Well, the Lopez twins were just both doing what we do tonight,” Brook Lopez said. “He was doing his dirty job … and I was playing real basketball.”

The Nets star added that “maybe we’ll get a grudge match. Who knows. I’m pulling for Ibaka, though.”

Fights like that don’t happen very often anymore in the NBA these days, and Raptors coach Dwane Casey explained why.

”Not anymore, it’s too expensive,” he said. ”Believe me, Serge Ibaka doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body, he’s a competitor, so is Lopez. I don’t think either one of them will go down as Rocky or anything like that.”

With the win, the Raptors snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Bulls. Toronto last beat Chicago on Dec. 31, 2013.

DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 42 points and eight assists. DeRozan set a franchise record with 38 shot attempts, of which he mad 17. Cory Joseph added 19 points for Toronto.

Butler led the Bulls with 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Rajon Rondo added a season-high 24 points.

Chicago opened a 109-104 lead on Paul Zipser’s 3-pointer with 6:39 remaining in the fourth. However, Toronto responded with a 15-0 run, tying the game on Joseph’s layup with 1:50 left.

The Raptors took the lead for the first time on a turnaround jumper from DeRozan with 1:23 remaining in overtime. Patrick Patterson had a tip-in layup to put Toronto up 119-115 with 44.7 seconds left.

Toronto leads the NBA with 18 comeback victories after trailing by 10 or more points.

A pre-game moment of silence was held to honor former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, who died Tuesday.

The Bulls next host Detroit on Wednesday, while the Raptors visit Miami on Thursday for the third of four meetings between the teams this season.

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 03: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts to being called for a second half foul against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on March 3, 2017 in Washington, DC.

The NBA released a statement late Monday night explaining that Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard should not have been ejected for hanging on the rim.

NBA Statement: Dwight Howard Should Not Have Been Tossed For Hanging On Rim

In the Hawks’ 114-98 victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Monday, Howard was called for his second technical foul with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter after hanging on the rim on a dunk.

Howard’s first technical came after he pushed Al Horford as a response to the Celtics All-Star’s foul on him, and the TD Garden crowd began booing. The Hawks center also fouled Isaiah Thomas by grabbing him near his neck, shortly before receiving his first technical.

In its statement, the NBA said Howard’s second technical for hanging on the rim “should have been deemed non-unsportsmanlike and should not have resulted in his ejection.”

Howard recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds before being tossed.

“It was a good team win,” Howard said. “I apologized to the guys and told them I need to do a better job of keeping my composure and some other things and they understood.”

Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said seeing his team win a physical issue is a good sign.

”I thought that was the thing that maybe stood out. We had an edge, we had a competitive, just a level that you need to compete in this league,” he said. ”I think the group understands what that is.”

The Hawks snapped a three-game skid with the win, while the Celtics ended a seven-game home winning streak.

Boston struggled all night offensively, despite guard Avery Bradley returning to the starting lineup after missing 22 of the previous 23 games with a right Achilles tendon injury. Bradley scored six points in 15 minutes of play.

”I just feel like we played hard enough,” Bradley said. ”In the second half they played harder than us. They punked us.”

The Hakws next begin a six-game homestand Wednesday night against Dallas, while the Celtics will host the Eastern conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Boston lost the first two games at Cleveland this season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcO7oZM6Ejk

BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 27: Dwight Howard #8 of the Atlanta Hawks is ejected from the game following his second technical foul against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at TD Garden on February 27, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Gregg Popovich was undeniably angry during the second quarter of his San Antonio Spurs‘ 118-104 home victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, and the coach made no visible attempt to hide it.

Watch: Nuggets’ Emmanuel Mudiay Imitates Referee As He Ejects Gregg Popovich

Popovich drew his first technical foul for arguing with an official from the bench. He didn’t stop there, however.

The coach chased after the referee and continued to bark at him, eventually earning his second technical and getting ejected with 1:36 remaining in the first half and the Spurs up 51-50.

Nuggets guard Emmaniel Mudiay immediately decided to troll Popovich by mimicking the referee and signaling for the coach to get tossed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc3YE7b_A7M

Fans on Twitter were amused by Mudiay’s gesture:

Mudiay apologized on Twitter early Friday for his action, saying he meant no disrespect to Popovich, whom he called one of the GOAT (greatest of all time), and adding he simply wanted “to have fun.”

The guard finished with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting from the field with two assists and three turnovers.

The Spurs are currently the West’s second-ranked team, while the Nuggets are the eighth seed.

The Nuggets (17-24) next host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, when the Spurs (33-9) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.

SAN ANTONIO,TX – MAY 10: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during game against the Oklahoma City in game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 10, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.

Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was ejected from Sunday’s 47-25 victory against the Green Bay Packers for making contact with an official.

Titans’ Taylor Lewan Ejected For Making Contact With Official; Defends Marcus Mariota

Lewan appeared to push the arm of back judge Steve Freeman’s arm during a first-quarter confrontation with Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion, who was called for a late hit on Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

After the play, Lewan got in Guion’s face and shoved him. When Freeman attempted to intervene, Lewan pushed him out of the way and was immediately tossed from the game.

Lewan’s ejection was the 11th of the season thus far, according to ESPN.

Dennis Kelly replaced Lewan at left tackle in the Titans’ lineup. Kelly was acquired in the Dorial Green-Beckham trade.

Lewan will also reportedly be fined a hefty sum, per FOX Sports’ Mike Pereira:

Guion was called for encroachment, which was declined, and unnecessary roughness, which was accepted. However, it was offset with Lewan’s 15-yard penalty.

When asked about the incident by reporters in the locker room post-game, Lewan showed remorse for his actions, but added: “I will never let someone take a free shot on Marcus Mariota.”

His ejection, nevertheless, didn’t slow down Tennessee, who took a 14-0 lead shortly afterwards and eventually a 21-0 lead on route to the win.

After the game, Titans coach Mike Mularkey stated he agreed with the decision to eject Lewan.

“It was the right call,” Mularkey said. “Taylor should not have been where he was. He should have been back in the huddle — no excuses. He shouldn’t have been there.”

The Titans (5-5) will next visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, while the Packers (4-5) will visit the Washington Redskins that day.

NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 09: Tackle Taylor Lewan #77 of the Tennessee Titans plays against Nick Perry #53 of the Green Bay Packers at LP Field on August 9, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)