Tennessee Titans

Kendall Wright: Draft reaction video being misinterpreted

Published May. 8, 2015 12:13 p.m. ET

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Tennessee Titans wide receivers Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright showed up at LP Field for a fan event the first night of the NFL draft last Thursday, unaware they were about to start a controversy.

The duo stood as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Titans' selection of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Their reaction immediately afterward indicated perhaps they weren't big fans of the pick: Hunter sat down, while Wright shook his head.

Unfortunately for Wright and Hunter, the moment was was caught on camera and later uploaded to YouTube, causing social media speculation the receivers weren't on board with the Mariota pick.

Not so, said Wright.

The fourth-year wideout told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean he was surprised by the response the video sparked and that the situation was misinterpreted.

"I have no reason to be upset," Wright said. "Me personally, I have nothing against Marcus Mariota. I have nothing against the pick. Period. My reaction was like that because to me, it was like someone like Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin getting picked. You knew who it was going to be, so there was nothing to get excited about it. Our fans, they're the ones who can get excited. I am too old to be jumping up and down and hollering."

Wright also added that Hunter's reaction stemmed not from disappointment with Mariota, but from losing a bet to Wright over whether the Titans would trade the pick.

"I am definitely giving Marcus Mariota a chance," Wright said. "They didn't bring him in as the No. 2 pick for him to sit down and not play. He's going to have to come in and be ready to play right away, and I'll do everything I can to help him look good. Why would I not like a guy who potentially could be throwing me the ball?"

So for the Titans, what might have been an awkward situation between their new quarterback and two of his top receivers appears to be a false alarm.

(h/t The Tennessean)
Photo credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports