Washington (United States) (AFP) - Ex-Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott pulling a gun at the team facility was more a cry for help than a criminal act, Titans coach Robert Saleh said on Wednesday.

Saleh made an emotional speech in support of Elliott, evoking the possibility of self-harm without being prompted but not confirming that was involved in the incident last Thursday in a parking lot.

“He’s a good man, had a terrible lapse in judgement that I recognize more as a call for help than a criminal act,” Saleh said.

“It’s unfortunate the way it went down, but as far as Jordan is concerned in the locker room and all people here see it differently than the knee-jerk reaction of the world.”

Saleh and players confirmed reports that Elliott went to his car to retrieve a gun after a practice altercation with offensive tackle J.C. Latham.

“Just pause with regards to the news that Jordan had a gun,” Saleh said. “This is a man who is a father, a great husband. This is a man who has never committed a crime in his entire life.

“And he pulled a gun in the parking lot. Why did he go off the rails and grab a gun? To me, those are small signs of a cry for help. Obviously there is something greater happening.”

Elliott, who has played for San Francisco and Cleveland in a seven-year NFL career, did not play last Sunday and was released by the Titans on Tuesday over what the club called an “incident”.

Having a gun at an NFL facility is a violation of league rules.

“The team and the NFL did a great job of pausing and asking those questions and checking every single box with regards to getting him the help that he needs,” Saleh said, noting without mentioning names two NFL players had taken their own lives in the past year.

“They may have been crying for help and everyone ignored it,” Saleh said. “I’m not saying that’s where (Elliott) was. I’m not going to speak on that, but these kids go through a lot.”

Saleh, who said he would recommend Elliott to every other NFL team, had worked with Elliott last year when he was defensive coordinator for San Francisco and Elliott was with the 49ers.

“I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character,” Saleh said. “Unfortunately, rules are rules with regards to guns on property and sometimes it’s far greater than the knee-jerk reaction of kicking somebody when they are down.

“My message to 31 other teams would be if you need a hell of a run-stopping D tackle who can help you on a playoff run, give me a call.”

- ‘Heat of the moment’ -

Latham called the altercation with Elliott and its aftermath “just an unfortunate situation. Just heat of the moment, (stuff) happens, ain’t really too much to say about it.”

Titans defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was credited with calming Elliott and Latham said, “I told him how much I appreciated it.”

Latham agreed “100%” with Saleh about the gun incident being a cry for help.

“Never been no bad blood between us two. We never actually had an argument leading up to it,” Latham said.

“I do think mental health is extremely important and that’s just one of those situations where you pray for a guy like that and, if you can, reach out to him, hope for the best for him. It’s nothing personal on my end.”

Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons called Elliott “an unbelievable teammate” adding, “We all deal with things off the field.

“I would say just for guys in the locker room, guys around the NFL, it’s OK to talk to people.

“One split(-second) decision can always affect your life… you just never know. People always talk about mental health when things happen but I think it’s the truth.”