NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher excused Kenny Britt from practice Friday and is giving him the benefit of the doubt while he gathers information about a bar fight the coach says the wide receiver tried to break up.
“My understanding at this point is that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. There was an altercation, but he was one of those that was trying to break it up. That’s my understanding right now, and I’m still gathering facts,” Fisher said.
Fisher said he hasn’t ruled out the possibility that Britt doesn’t play Sunday when the Titans (4-2) host the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2).
“It really depends on the information I am able to obtain before kickoff. That’s really all I can say,” Fisher said.
WSMV-TV first reported Britt was involved in a fight at Club Karma at 1:45 a.m. Friday.
Harold Pointer, 26, told police he was drinking at the bar when Bradford Miser, 29, punched him in the face. When officers asked Miser why he punched Pointer, he said he had been elbowed in the throat. When Pointer and Miser fell to the ground, Pointer and witnesses told police Britt joined Miser in hitting the man.
“What we were told it was more than once,” Metro Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said of Britt hitting Pointer.
An investigation into misdemeanor assault remained open Friday afternoon. Pointer told officers initially Friday morning that he did not want to prosecute, but indicated he might at a later time. He has up to a year to file charges.
Pointer told The Tennessean he received four stitches at the emergency room and is looking to hire a lawyer. He also said security broke up the fight and let Britt leave before police arrived. Pointer also said Titans running back Chris Johnson was there and tried stop them from fighting.
When asked if other Titans might have been with Britt at the bar, Fisher said: “I’m not going to go into those details.”
The 30th pick overall in 2009, Britt led the team with 701 yards receiving as a rookie. He has started two straight games this season and is tied for the team lead with 16 catches. He ranks second with 209 yards receiving and has a team-high four touchdown receptions with one in each of the past four games.
This isn’t the first time Britt has been involved with the police since being the first player ever drafted out of Rutgers in the first round.
Britt was arrested in January when police found three outstanding traffic warrants from two different New Jersey towns. Britt paid the $865 due and was released. Then Britt was stopped by Nashville police during training camp 30 minutes before curfew because his car windows were tinted too dark.
He was ticketed for driving without a license because he had lost his license and obtained photo identification in Tennessee so he could catch a flight to New Jersey. Britt eventually found his license but hadn’t cleared up confusion over a hold placed on it by New Jersey authorities.
“Kenny is a good kid,” Fisher said. “He’s working hard. He’s really come on the last few weeks, and I’d be surprised if he would put himself in a position to jeopardize that. But again, I’m still gathering facts.”
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.