GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur got his wish for a fight-free practice with the Denver Broncos on Friday, but not without a few reality checks.
During one of the early 11-on-11 periods, Broncos fullback Nik Bonitto appeared to hit the arm of Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The ball was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
Not that anyone on the Green Bay Packers side cared at the moment.
The quarterback is actually off limits during a joint practice. Unsurprisingly, LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, who were watching from the back as usual, were not happy about it, and Love’s teammates rushed to protect their quarterback and leader.
Nik Bonitto of the Broncos hits Jordan Love’s arm and makes a strip sack, the ball flaps and is intercepted. LaFleur didn’t like that. The Packers teammates all came to Love’s aid, but didn’t throw any punches.
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) 16 August 2024
A scuffle ensued, but no blows were thrown and calm was quickly restored.
Here’s the scuffle with the Packers. I’m not sure what started it, probably the pick 6 that just happened pic.twitter.com/AMqJIEqTtQ
– Jake Goetz (@broncosnews303) 16 August 2024
As it turned out, it may have been a case of mistaken identity.
“I’m not sure. That’s one of those I’ll have to look at again,” Love told reporters afterward. “I was going to throw and (right tackle) Zach Tom got pushed and hit my shoulder. I don’t think it had anything to do with the D-line or anything. Just friendly fire.”
At the moment, however, it was assumed that Bonitto had violated the cardinal rule of joint practices.
“Yeah, I think a lot of guys didn’t really see it and didn’t know what happened,” Love said. “We’re big on staying away from the quarterback, so maybe they thought the D-lineman hit my arm or something, which I don’t think happened. But guys just didn’t see what happened.”
Here is the piece:
Nik Bonitto FORCES an interception from Alex Singleton. Tempers flared and a brawl broke out. pic.twitter.com/TosOgkph2S
– Jake Goetz (@broncosnews303) 16 August 2024
“I think it’s about being productive and letting go of all the bullshit and fighting,” LaFleur said before practice. “Of course, it’s football. There’s going to be competition, it’s going to get rough, but can you keep your composure? I think that’s part of the beauty of the game. In a real game situation, it gets rough, it gets testy. Guys start talking. But can you keep your composure?
During a special teams period, Packers long snapper Matt Orzech and Broncos defensive back Devon Key got into a shoving duel. Moments later, LaFleur seemed to lack the composure he was looking for when Orzech’s snap sailed over the head of 6-foot-5 punter Daniel Whelan and into the end zone.
Matt Orzech only had to be stopped from starting a scuffle during a punt drill, and on the next play he snatched the ball over Daniel Whelan’s head from the back of the end zone.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) 16 August 2024
Joint practices are almost synonymous with extracurricular activities that range from shoving and shoving to outright brawls. Such is the nature of extremely competitive people battling each other without fear of meaningful punishment and without fear of being fined by the NFL.
By and large, however, LaFleur and his counterpart, Broncos coach Sean Payton, got their wish, as the practice went off without a fight, as the jostling and shoving was limited to, well, jostling and shoving.
“Just a good, competitive workout,” that’s what LaFleur was looking for. “The same thing we do against our guys, accept that it’s good to go against an unknown opponent. It makes these guys really trust their rules. I think it tests our rules, certainly from a structural standpoint on the defensive side of the ball. They play a different defense; it’s a 34 defense at their base. And then on offense, they’re going to show us some different concepts that our defense hasn’t seen yet.
“I think overall it’s going to be a good, competitive practice. I know it’s going to be good for our team – both teams – to be able to practice some of the kickoff stuff. We just want to have a good, competitive practice and want to keep it safe, just like we do with our own group. We want to eliminate any possible fights.”
The Packers and Broncos meet on Sunday night in their second preseason game of the year. Love and most of the Green Bay Packers’ regular players are not expected to play.
RELATED: This is what happened during joint training on Friday
More news from the Green Bay Packers training camp
The ability to influence the game as a receiver and blocker, #Packer WR Grant DuBose showed the same thing against the Browns that he showed in college. ⬇️https://t.co/ZUdPGD3GLI
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) 16 August 2024
Packers – Broncos: Four players who need a good weekend | Quarterbacks are the focus
Latest news and analysis: Grant DuBose plays with the right attitude | The Packers’ new linebacker, Chris Russell | New Packers running back Nate McCrary | Quarterback battle | Packers sign running back | Packers sign linebacker | 53-man squad projection (Westendorf) | Waiting game: Love vs. Williams | Injury Updates | No. 1 Recipient and vomit | 53-man projection (Huber) | Gold, silver and bronze after week 3 of the camp
Highlights of the training camp: Exercise 15 | Exercise 14 | Exercise 13 | Exercise 12 | Exercise 11 | Family night | Exercise 9 | Exercise 8 | Exercise 7 | Exercise 6 | Exercise 5 | Exercise 4 | Exercise 3 | Exercise 2 | Exercise 1
