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Carolina Panthers have brawl at minicamp

By Matt Verderame

Sep 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy (94) lines up during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium. The Steelers defeated the Panthers 37-19. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy (94) lines up during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium. The Steelers defeated the Panthers 37-19. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers are in the swing of the 2015 National Football League season, literally. On Wednesday, defensive end Kony Ealy and left tackle Michael Oher came to blows during the second day of the team’s mandatory minicamp, per Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review. Apparently, it was one of a few altercations at the practice, but by far the most intense.

In the end, the players began throwing punches and actually wrestling around on the ground before finally being pulled apart by teammates and coaches. The most amazing part of this whole ordeal is that minicamp is a non-contact, no pads event. Just wait until these guys can actually start playing football in late July at training camp. Then again, 100-degree heat like Charlotte has been experiencing will get anybody testy. Per Pro Football Talk:

"“I think the heat got the best of us,” coach Ron Rivera said. “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.”"

It’s not any big deal to see players on the same team fight during camps. It happens every year, and some coaches actually enjoy seeing a couple of their guys getting after it. However, it is mildly surprising to see it happen in June before contact begins. Normally, these types of things crop up in mid-August when guys have been beating each other up for a few weeks.

"“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.”“I don’t mind the pushing and the shoving, but when you start swinging at one another, you’ve got to be careful. 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.”"

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