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Erik Ainge calls for Tennessee cheap shot against A.J. McCarron: ‘He’s got a sore knee ... ’

A former football player has said a thing publicly that football players should probably not say publicly.

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron has a knee injury (which is nowhere near as bad as rumors suggested) heading into the Third Saturday in October, a fiercely contested SEC rivalry and potential trip-up for the nearly invincible Tide. Former Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge says ill-advised things. Therefore, via Matt Scalici:

“I say it all the time. Nasty, attitude, get after it. Do something crazy,” Ainge said. “The first time AJ McCarron drops back, tell one of your boys you’ve got fifteen on this one. He’s got a sore knee, go step on it.”

Ordinarily, one might assume Vols defenders won’t even have the chance to do something so dastardly standard dastardly, as they rank a dismal 101st in sacks on the year. But Alabama’s pass blocking hasn’t been their best either, ranking 81st in sacks allowed per game. SOMETHING’S GOTTA NOT GIVE VERY MUCH.

About all this will do is give Bama offensive linemen and pass rushers a little more juice, but rest assured Vols defenders have been very aware the SEC’s most efficient passer has a bad wheel (whether or not they were actually planning to put him in the Sharpshooter).

In his final season with the Vols, Ainge was sacked only three times in 519 attempts. That has almost nothing to do with anything, but I felt like including it.

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