When you think of headline-grabbing NFL stories, a backup quarterback sending questionable DMs from the sidelines isn’t exactly what comes to mind. Yet, that’s where we found ourselves Monday night. While the Tennessee Titans squeaked out their first win of the season against the Miami Dolphins, the real action didn’t happen on the field — it was all going down in the Instagram comments.
The latest contestant in the social media reality show is none other than Titans QB Mason Rudolph. Yep, that Mason Rudolph. The man who, after taking over for an injured Will Levis, threw for an exhilarating 85 yards in Monday’s 27-23 victory. But instead of celebrating, Rudolph found himself dodging more than defensive tackles when Miami-based social media personality Amanda Vance claimed he sent her a DM during the game.
The “Slide into My DMs” Scandal
Vance, who attended the game with her Dolphins-loving boyfriend Joey Mauriello, took to the Instagram account of the gaming platform Betr to post about the alleged message. Naturally, this spicy revelation lit up social media faster than a Tyreek Hill 40-yard dash. Did Rudolph really have enough time on his hands to juggle an NFL defense and text a random influencer?
Nope, says Rudolph. He hopped on The Doug Gottlieb Show the next day to slam the brakes on the runaway rumor train, making it crystal clear that Amanda’s claim was about as legit as the Jets’ playoff hopes.
“No, it was a response and it was about eight months ago,” Rudolph retorted, adding with a hint of sarcasm. “It was definitely not in between second down and third down, that’s for sure. But a good frame job. A good frame job for a little 15 seconds of fame, I guess.”
Ah, the classic “I’ve been set up” defense. Rudolph’s words dripped with sarcasm, almost making you wonder if he was giving Amanda Vance the credit for being an up-and-coming Scorsese with her narrative skills. But one thing’s clear — if Rudolph’s DMing skills were as sharp as his response, he’d probably be leading the league in yardage… or at least in viral moments.
Titanic Effort? Not Quite.
Lost in the chaos was the fact that Tennessee actually won a football game. But Rudolph, ever the humble backup, admitted that he didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet. “I didn’t do a whole lot, that’s for sure,” he shrugged. The credit, he said, went to the O-line, Tyjae Spears, and Tony Pollard for doing the heavy lifting.
Well, that’s a refreshing take, Mason. When was the last time a quarterback handed out compliments instead of shameless self-promotion? Maybe Amanda Vance should have hit up the offensive line instead. Now that’s a frame job worth putting on the gram!
Bye-Bye QB Controversy?
Next up for the Titans? A bye week. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what Rudolph’s chances of starting in Week 6 are — bye, bye, and bye. Despite Monday’s win, the message from coach Brian Callahan is as clear as Tom Brady’s trophy case: “Will’s our quarterback. He’s our starter when healthy, and we’re ready to roll with him.”
Rudolph might be used to being second fiddle, but it sounds like there’s no room for even a shadow of a QB controversy in Tennessee. The MRI results on Levis’ shoulder were about as relieving as finding out your ex’s new partner is uglier than you — there’s nothing serious to worry about.
“No controversy, no second-guessing,” Callahan hammered home, perhaps taking notes from Rudolph’s handling of the other controversy that overshadowed the night. If only Instagram dramas were as easy to manage as depth charts.
So, for now, Rudolph goes back to clipboard duty while the Titans hope to build some momentum with Levis back under center. Kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts is set for 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT on CBS. Maybe this time, the only thing sliding around will be the chains, and not a DM.
