NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Marcus Mariota threw an interception in practice on Tuesday, and usually that wouldn't be real newsworthy.
Because the team's rookie quarterback had gone 230 straight throws to start camp without being picked off, however, it was cause for celebration – for the defense.
"It's about time it happened," Titans safety Michael Griffin said. "We were getting a little tired of being asked that question. We joked with Marcus that we were going to get the ball painted and write the date and his name on it with his first interception in practice and we were going to hang it up somewhere, probably in the defensive meeting room somewhere."
For the record, Mariota's first interception came in his 14th practice of training camp. Linebacker Zach Brown got him, hauling in a pass over the middle that was tipped by linebacker Avery Williamson and deflected again by safety Da'Norris Searcy before he finally hauled it in.
"It was going to happen sooner or later," Mariota said with a smile.
"It's over," coach Ken Whisenhunt joked. "I guess we'll see if we can find another quarterback now. I'm glad it's over so you guys will quit talking about it. It's pretty incredible that it went this long."
Brown did what several defenders in camp weren't able to do – finish the play. Several other Titans had their chance to be the first, including linebacker Yawin Smallwood, who nearly picked off Mariota early in practice Tuesday.
"I saw that ball in the air and I was like, "Oh snap!,'' Brown said. "I'm glad we were finally able to bring one down."
Mariota, who threw an interception on his first preseason series against the Falcons, took the ribbing well.
His parents, visiting from Hawaii, watched practice on a day when he threw two red-zone touchdowns late, and went 12-of-17 on the day.
"The defense made a good play,'' Mariota said. "It was batted up the in the air and it was a good play. It stings a little bit more because it was the two-minute drill and you want to be able to win the drill.
"(The defenders) let me know. It happens. You've just got to learn from it."
