As players grow weary of hitting the same teammates in training camp, fights break out. And everyone loves a blurb about a training-camp fight.
In Philadelphia, multiple reports via Twitter indicate that running back LeSean McCoy got into a scuffle with one or more defensive teammates in only the second practice of camp. Defensive end Trent Cole reportedly was one of the combatants.
Per our buddy Ross Tucker, Cole “LIT UP” McCoy in the non-padded session, prompting the brouhaha. Via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, McCoy was “pretty fired up,” and coach Chip Kelly held McCoy back.
McLane points out that the Eagles had only two fights last year in camp, and that Kelly doesn’t like them.
Some coaches love them. Some instigate them to draw a little fire and toughness out of certain players, as Jets coach Rex Ryan demonstrated during Hard Knocks four years ago.
Ultimately, a fight introduces another level of injury risk to a process that already entails a fairly high risk of injury. So it makes sense to avoid situations where guys are throwing fists at heads in helmets and/or doing other stuff that could get someone hurt.