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Titans accuse Saints of using whistle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans came out of Sunday's 22-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints unhappy about more than the result.

Veteran offensive linemen Jake Scott and Michael Roos said they thought a whistle was being blown from the Saints' bench area late in the game, particularly during the Titans' second-to-last offensive possession.

Scott said Dean McCondichie, who produces the team's television show, "Titans All Access," has evidence of the whistle-blowing.

"Dean's got it on tape," Scott said. "Somebody was blowing a whistle on the sideline. There is audio of it, so we'll let it go from there. The second to last drive I think."

Said Roos: "Everybody on our side heard something, we're not sure where it came from exactly. But it sounded like from over there, and until we know more I can't really say anything else. It's not something that should be done but until we can have somebody look at it, we'll have to wait and see."

McCondichie said he had a microphone on Roos for this week's episode of the show.

"During the game we heard this whistle blowing, but they weren't stopping the game, they just kept playing," he said. "They were loud enough for me to hear it on the microphone on him. They were all trying to figure out why play continued. I asked them if they knew where it came from and they said the New Orleans bench. Nobody saw it, but it was pretty loud and it was definitely a whistle.

"The best I will be able to do tomorrow is say, 'Yeah, there is that whistle.' I can confirm it was loud enough for the Titans left tackle and several of his teammates to hear it during the play."

A New Orleans spokesman said the Saints would have no immediate comment.

Titans coach Mike Munchak said he didn't know about the incident, but planned to look into it.

"You assume no one would be trying to do something like that to affect the game in some way," he said.

Titans receiver Nate Washington also took exception to the play of New Orleans safety Roman Harper, who was called for a facemask on a tackle of Damian Williams that kept Williams out of the end zone after a 54-yard catch-and-run.

"Honestly, he's a dirty player," Washington said. "We watched film on him, he's dirty. And I don't appreciate it, I'm going to step out in public and say it: He's dirty.

"That was dirty what he did, it's unfortunate that he grabbed the facemask -- at the same time you don't walk over a guy and nudge him with your knee. You don't do that. That's dirty. And honestly, that's a dirty player, flat out. This is not just one game. He's been doing it all season. And I'm tired of it. I hope the league did something about it."

Washington said his coach -- it was unclear if it was Munchak, offensive coordinator Chris Palmer or receiver coach Dave Ragone -- warned the Titans that the Saints would be chippy and dirty.

Harper was the main player used as an example, Washington said.

Paul Kuharsky covers the AFC South for ESPN.com.