MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline was trending on Twitter in the third quarter of their 34-15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs for the wrong reasons.
Following an important touchdown catch that cut the deficit to 14-10, Hartline celebrated with a golf putt as teammates Mike Wallace, Ryan Tannehill, Dallas Thomas and others joined in. Group celebrations result in a 15-yard penalty.
That helped set up a score by the Chiefs on the ensuing drive where Kansas City took a 21-10 lead. Miami was never able to get much closer and fell to 1-2 on the season.
“It is what it is; I will learn from it and I made a mistake,” Hartline said afterwards. “Hopefully my teammates will forgive me.”
Hartline said the touchdown celebration was unplanned and he was surprised it became a group thing. Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, as expected, wasn’t happy about it.
“I can’t make any excuse, I’m disappointed -- very disappointed ,” Philbin said. “It’s uncharacteristic of us. I don’t think we’ve had one. It’s a poor reflection of me. It’s not good.”
Hartline didn’t want his head coach taking blame and reiterated it was his mistake.
“Nah, that’s silly,” Hartline said. “I think he’s just taking blame for something nothing he had no part of. I had a misunderstanding. I didn’t think I was putting myself in a compromising position, [but] I did.”
Had the Dolphins won the game one 15-yard penalty wouldn’t be in the spotlight. But the Dolphins are struggling mightily during this two-game losing streak -- losing both by 19 points each -- where mistakes like these often are highlighted.
