As temperatures threatened to break a record high for a second straight day, tempers flared Wednesday at Carolina Panthers minicamp.A couple scuffles broke out in the 90-plus degree heat, and each included punches. Guard Amini Silatolu and linebacker Jason Trusnik got into it during the first half of practice, but they were separated quickly.Things were much more heated when left tackle Michael Oher and defensive end Kony Ealy exchanged blows and eventually wound up on the ground in-between a pile of teammates who eventually helped diffuse the situation. Quarterback Cam Newton ran toward the media mugging for cameras that weren’t allowed to shoot at the time while normally reserved defensive tackle Star Lotulelei exchanged words with a few members of the offense.“I think the heat got the best of us,” coach Ron Rivera said afterward.“It’ll happen, and the same thing will happen in training camp, unfortunately. We’ve been going at it now for four weeks with OTAs and now minicamp, and this was our first day we had anything. So it was, unfortunately, inevitable and I think the heat really had a little bit to do with it.”The Oher and Ealy tussle wasn’t notable just because it broke up the monotony of minicamp. Oher, entering his seventh season, is the guy the Panthers have entrusted to protect Newton’s blindside this year. Ealy, who had an up and down rookie season, is in a four-man competition for a starting spot across from Charles Johnson.“I don’t like the fighting, but I do like the fact that there was a standoff,” Rivera said. “Kony’s a young guy who’s learning and trying to learn how to cope and Michael’s a veteran guy. It’s kind of like the young bear poking the older bear.”With one day left before everyone heads their separate ways until training camp, emotions won’t likely carry over to Thursday’s lighter practice. And while there are some interesting battles to look forward to in Spartanburg, Wednesday’s actual fights were a reminder of the line Rivera doesn’t want to be crossed.“I don’t mind the pushing and the shoving, but when you start swinging at one another, you’ve got to be careful,” Rivera said. “You’ve got to treat each other like brothers, and if you had a fight with a brother, you wouldn’t swing at him, you’d probably want to make sure you talk to your mom and dad.”My office is open.”
Tempers Flare at Wednesday’s Panthers’ Minicamp
Gotta love the passion, the intensity. They’ll be fine. Brothers can fight each other sometimes, but you better not let a non family member start trouble. They’ll both be on you like a duck on a junebug. Keep pounding!
Gotta love the passion, the intensity. They’ll be fine. Brothers can fight each other sometimes, but you better not let a non family member start trouble. They’ll both be on you like a duck on a junebug. Keep pounding!
Oher seems to be trying to shed himself of the portrait the movie painted of him and wants to be seen as someone with viable fire and league relevance. Meh. Waiting to see how physical he is willing to be in preseason game 3. Until then, it’s just noise.
Here’s what the Titans think of Oher.
“In Nashville, teammates found him (Oher) surly and disagreeable and there was clearly a disconnect in the O-Line room in which he was a central piece. … offensive line feels it’s benefiting from addition by subtraction.”
LT Taylor Lewan – “We all get along, were all around the same age. The chemistry between us now and last year is just way better. … We’re doing a lot better running down field, chasing the play.”
espn.go.com/blog/tennessee-titans/post/_/id/14351/titans-taylor-lewan-talks-o-line-chemistry-makes-me-consider-michael-oher
Oher seems to be trying to shed himself of the portrait the movie painted of him and wants to be seen as someone with viable fire and league relevance. Meh. Waiting to see how physical he is willing to be in preseason game 3. Until then, it’s just noise.
Here’s what the Titans think of Oher.
“In Nashville, teammates found him (Oher) surly and disagreeable and there was clearly a disconnect in the O-Line room in which he was a central piece. … offensive line feels it’s benefiting from addition by subtraction.”
LT Taylor Lewan – “We all get along, were all around the same age. The chemistry between us now and last year is just way better. … We’re doing a lot better running down field, chasing the play.”
espn.go.com/blog/tennessee-titans/post/_/id/14351/titans-taylor-lewan-talks-o-line-chemistry-makes-me-consider-michael-oher
Oh, their just bonding…
Oh, their just bonding…