Brady Henderson
GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Tempers flared, punches flew and one participant was kicked out throughout a fight-filled joint apply Thursday between the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
The 2-hour session on the Packers' apply facility was marked by roughly a dozen skirmishes, together with a number of that escalated into full-on fights. Packers proper sort out Zach Tom was kicked out after one in all them, having exchanged punches with Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon in what quarterback Jordan Love described as one of many greater fights he has seen in his profession.
“I believe once you get each sidelines clearing, it is robust,” mentioned Love, who sat out of that drill as he continues to get better from left thumb surgical procedure. “Strive your finest to interrupt it up and issues like that, however it is going to occur, man. I do not know. There is not any reply for that.”
Based on Tom, his battle started when Jones entered Inexperienced Bay's huddle, trying to go after a Packers ball provider after the 2 had gone at it the earlier snap.
“It is already disrespectful that they are in our huddle,” Tom mentioned, “after which any individual will get hit whereas we're within the huddle, bought to have some satisfaction, you recognize?”
Requested whether or not he was OK with the choice to kick him out of shape, Tom mentioned: “I really feel like, yeah, I can have higher management — not throwing punches — however I do not know. It's what it's, you recognize? I can solely management what I can management.”
It wasn't way more peaceable on the opposite finish of the sector, the place Seattle's offense and Inexperienced Bay's protection repeatedly tussled throughout 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 durations. A Packers defender took a swing at Seahawks proper guard Anthony Bradford throughout probably the most heated of these incidents.
The ultimate 11-on-11 durations went off with out incident, however instantly after apply ended, gamers from each groups converged in the midst of the sector and started jawing at one another. That resumed moments later because the Seahawks have been making their manner inside.
“I did not respect on the whole them coming to our sideline whereas apply was over,” Seahawks defensive sort out Leonard Williams mentioned. “We have already broke the huddle, guys are on our facet, their guys are on their facet, and persons are coming over. It is laborious with these joint practices as a result of stuff like that at all times occurs. You don't need it to occur nevertheless it occurs. We attempt to keep away from it as a lot as doable, however I did not respect it.”
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who spent your entire day with Seattle's protection, did not sound overly upset in regards to the preventing. He started his post-practice media session by thanking Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the group for internet hosting them. When requested whether or not he was OK with all of the fights, he mentioned he is someplace within the center between worrying and accepting that they are a actuality of joint practices.
“It is laborious to inform what occurred, who mentioned what,” Macdonald mentioned. “Look, you need your guys to defend their [teammates]. There is a line. Whether or not we go previous the road, I do not assume we did, which is nice. Our guys stayed composed. However a few of these issues do are inclined to occur, and nonetheless it will get began … hopefully it isn't our guys, however persons are going to react to a sure extent. I believe our guys dealt with it fairly effectively.”
Love, who had thumb surgical procedure Aug. 12, took half solely in particular person drills and 7-on-7. He mentioned he made positive to remain away from the preventing beneath the circumstances.
“I am form of simply roaming round, ensuring all people's straight and simply seeing form of what is going on on,” he mentioned. “However positively — particularly proper now with the damage — I am not going to be stepping into any scuffles proper now, so I will keep away.”
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold gave a joking response when requested what he does in these conditions.
“I am getting proper in there, man,” he mentioned. “That is my time to shine. I am getting proper in the midst of it.”
ESPN's Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.
