Temperatures are cooler in Seattle than in most of the cities with NFL teams having Organized Team Activities this week, but things are getting heated between the Seahawks’ wide receivers and defensive backs.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports that a skirmish broke out including several players in the two position groups.
It started when receiver Ben Obomanu and cornerback Jeremy Lane were tussling after the whistle blew on a play and had to be separated. Then safety Earl Thomas jumped in to help Lane, taking a swing at Obomanu. That led to receivers Doug Baldwin and Mike Williams jumping in to help Obomanu. (In the picture, wide receiver Deon Butler is pulling Thomas away from the fight.)
A few plays later, according to the News Tribune, safety DeShawn Shead “almost took Baldwin’s head off” on a pass over the middle.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he used the fight as an opportunity to talk to his players about competing hard without crossing the line.
“We’re asking these guys to work really hard, and it really matters to them and they really care,” Carroll said. “And they want to make their plays and their statements, and I don’t blame them one bit. But there is a line that you can cross, and that’s what we talked about afterward.”
And as much as Carroll likes competition, he draws the line at taking a swing at a teammate.