The Tennessee Titans' second padded practice of training camp will be remembered more for the fights than the football. Once again, JC Latham and Jeffrey Simmons found themselves at the center of action despite Tuesday's original altercation involving Simmons and Austin Schlottmann before tensions later shifted to Latham.
The repeated confrontations between Latham and Simmons quickly became the biggest storyline of the day, overshadowing much of what took place on the field.
The altercation escalated when Simmons, despite no longer wearing his helmet, threw punches during the confrontation. Head coach Robert Saleh addressed the incident roughly an hour after the event, during his post-practice media availability, offering his thoughts on what transpired.
"It's the second day of pads, it's hot, it's muggy. You're expecting it. Especially with the way that the offensive line and defensive line gets after it, so it's just a reminder that we got work to do. It's okay. I got brothers, and we fight all the time, but at the end of the day we will still take care of one another and make sure we're good getting the work done that we need to get," Saleh said.
It's NOT Okay for Jeffery Simmons to Act This Way
Saleh downplayed the incident by saying "It's okay," but it's fair to question that perspective. As one of the team's captains, Simmons is expected to set the standard for the defense and lead by example. When emotions boil over to the point of repeated altercations, it becomes a distraction from the team's primary goal of preparing for the season.
An isolated incident on Monday could have been viewed as the product of an intense, physical practice however, after tensions carried over into the following day, it's reasonable to wonder whether the response to the initial altercation was strong enough to prevent another confrontation. Regardless of the cost, the Titans will want their leaders to channel that competitiveness in a way that benefits the team rather than detracts from it.
Saleh did put his foot down, but not in a way that seems completely reasonable given the circumstances.
"Our policy is that if you throw a punch you're ejected from the game. Same thing with practice. If you throw a punch you're out of practice. Rather than going to the locker room, he still went to the other field and got his work in, so that the projective reps and the work that he would've got in, he got in off to the side," Saleh said.
It's true that teammates often describe one another as brothers and disagreements are inevitable. However, Simmons isn't just another player. He's one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL and one of the team's leaders. With that contract comes an expectation of professionalism, particularly during training camp.
On the field, Simmons has consistently played at a level that justifies his contract. Off the field, though, the Titans need the same level of leadership and composure. Repeated altercations risk becoming unnecessary distractions, and more importantly, increase the potential for injuries in their practices that are designed to prepare the team for the regular season. With Dan Moore Jr. already suffering an injury on Tuesday, protecting the health of the roster should be a top priority moving forward.
Suspension Seems Necessary
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The last thing the Titans want is for a player to suffer an injury because a practice altercation escalated into a fight. Incidents like these can quickly become an avoidable risk if they are not addressed early. Given that this is the second consecutive day tensions have boiled over, there's a reasonable argument that disciplinary action, including a suspension from practice, should be considered to reinforce accountability and help prevent similar incidents from happening again.
