Cardinals' head coach Jonathan Gannon hit with huge fine for sideline spat with Emari Demercado

The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly docked head coach Jonathan Gannon a hefty $100,000 following his heated sideline confrontation with running back Emari Demercado during Sunday's crushing loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Demercado had what should've been the dagger, a surefire, game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter, slip right through his hands. Literally. The Cardinals running back let the ball go just shy of the goal line during what was set to be a 28-6 knockout blow against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.

Instead of icing the game, Arizona watched the ball — and the momentum — bounce the other way. Cameras quickly caught head coach Jonathan Gannon fuming on the sideline, giving Demercado an earful after the costly blunder.

The incident stemmed from a costly blunder by Demercado, who carelessly dropped the ball before crossing the goal line on what should've been a 72-yard touchdown — a play that could've put Arizona comfortably ahead 28-6 early in the fourth quarter. Instead, the momentum flipped, and the Cardinals went on to suffer a gut-wrenching 22-21 defeat.

Footage circulating online captured the tense moment, with Gannon storming over to Demercado, who was being comforted by left tackle Paris Johnson after the gaffe. The coach could be seen confronting his player, getting in his face before appearing to make brief contact with Demercado's arm as he turned away.

On Monday, Gannon owned up to his outburst, saying, "I kind of let the moment get the better of me there." According to reports, the fine will serve as his only punishment, as the Cardinals look to move on from a moment that perfectly summed up their frustrating afternoon.

It was the kind of moment everyone involved would love to erase from memory. Jonathan Gannon owned up to losing his cool, admitting that his emotions spilled over when they should’ve been kept in check. Now, with the dust settling after that disastrous meltdown against the Tennessee Titans, the Arizona Cardinals will have to rally together and restore some sense of unity.

There’s no time for lingering tension either; the Cardinals must regroup fast and show some backbone when they line up against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.