Around the NFL: Mawae denies cheap shot

Tennessee center Kevin Mawae says he’s sorry he injured San Diego’s Shawne Merriman last Sunday but insists it was unintentional. Merriman suffered a sprained left knee and later suggested he was a targeted cheap-shot victim.

Mawae denied that.

“You know what? I’ve been called dirty, I have been called a cheap-shot guy,” Mawae told the Nashville Tennessean. “The thing is, I have found out in 14 years that if you are doing it to somebody else it is a ‘cheap shot’ but when they do it to you it is ‘tough football.’

“The game is a violent game and I understand guys can get hurt playing this game. Therefore I would never intentionally try to hurt somebody.”

Chow interviews for UCLA job

The Tennessee Titans have granted UCLA permission to interview offensive coordinator Norm Chow for their head coaching position, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The interview was scheduled to take place Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., where the Titans will play the Chiefs today.

Chow, in his third season with the Titans, previously served as offensive coordinator at USC. UCLA fired head coach Karl Dorrell after five seasons.

Colts without five starters

The Colts will sit five starters today at Oakland, with injuries to defensive end Robert Mathis leaving the team without any of the first-string defensive linemen it had to start training camp.

The Colts decided Saturday that Mathis and safety Antoine Bethea would not play against the Raiders. Receiver Marvin Harrison, defensive tackle Raheem Brock and right tackle Ryan Diem are all out.