INDIANAPOLIS – Given the current state of affairs in multiple corners of the NFL, what didn’t happen on Wednesday may be on par news-wise with what did happen between the Bears and Indianapolis Colts.
No fights.
That would appear to be the exception rather than the rule. The Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams cut a joint practice short after a third multi-player skirmish that included franchise receiver Dez Bryant being punched in the fact be a Rams defensive back. Video of the brawl between the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins went viral.
[MORE BEARS: Bears offense struggles against a different 3-4 (or was that a 4-3?) defense]
Fights marred practices between the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins. Dust-ups are not uncommon in the heat (literally and figuratively) of padded camp practices in August, but the run of them this year has some teams questioning the viability of working against another team.
Not as far as the Bears and Colts are concerned. Part of the reason – and this does not preclude something breaking out in Thursday’s practice – lies in neither head coach being the least bit interested in seeing that kind of faux toughness.
[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]
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“I told [Colts players] when we started training camp, before we ever took the field, first team meeting we had, I said if guys fight, if you do it in the game, they’re going to throw you out and you’re hurting the team,” said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. “So you can’t do it. If they cross the line and guys fight, then you saw two guys leave our practice field.
“So this is no different. Coach [John] Fox is sending the same message that I send. We’re here to make each other better. We’re here to take care of each other. Treat them like we treat ourselves. It’s not about the chirping and the jaw jacking and taking cheap shots. It’s about getting better. They’re here to make us better and vice versa. It won’t be tolerated and you can’t cross the line.”