George Ferguson column: Highs or lows, Mariani shows poise

Marc Mariani's 98-yard kickoff return Sunday afternoon against the Denver Broncos was a thing of beauty.

And I'm sure every person in Havre, Missoula and all points beyond who were watching rose to their feet in front of their TV's as a he streaked down the sidelines on his way to pay dirt for the first time in the NFL.

For someone who has seen and covered so many of Mariani's great moments throughout the years, Sunday's epic kick return will be something I won't soon forget. The celebration, the sound of the crowd as he neared the goal line, the look on his face on the sidelines with his teammates afterwards, it was all priceless.

But as anyone who watched the game saw, Mariani also faced some adversity Sunday afternoon when he and the Titans couldn't come up with a difficult and strange Denver kickoff late in the game with the Broncos leading.

But what ensued a few hours later makes me just as proud and just as impressed with Mariani as what he did with his electrifying kick return.

It was gut wrenching to see it unfold the way it did, to see Mariani on the sidelines dejected after what transpired in the final minutes of Sunday's loss to the Broncos.

But my spirits were lifted right back up when I saw how Mariani carried himself and heard his answers to postgame questions.

The NFL media is tough, sometimes brutal and while Mariani was asked about his touchdown to some extent, he faced some tough questions from some tough, veteran NFL reporters on the kick and the final moments of Sunday's heartbreaking loss. And he came through with flying colors, and it's just another reason why Marc is so easy to like and even easier to respect.

To sum his postgame presser up, Mariani was a true professional. He took direct questions and gave direct answers. He also genuinely took responsibility for the play in question, and although some would argue the fumble didn't fall directly on his shoulders, his response was: "I should of made the play. I know what I'm supposed to do. You can never practice every ball that is going to come your way. I feel that it was one of those ones that should have been this way, should have been that play. It's my responsibility and I need to get it done."

Taking responsibility is paramount in professional sports. It's something some athletes never learn to do. But because of who he is, the man he is and now the professional he has become, Mariani didn't have to learn it, he knew it already and it's just another reason why he is already so well-liked and well-respected in the Titans' locker room.

And it's also why Mariani, who doesn't just have a knack for the dramatic big plays, but also the strength and maturity in dealing very well with the adversity that comes with the game of football, is destined to have a bright, bright future in the NFL.