ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur longed for a fight-free joint practice as the Packers and Denver Broncos warmed up Friday.
He and Broncos coach Sean Payton agreed that there should be no 1-on-1 drills with wide receivers, cornerbacks or linebackers against running backs, and that even the pass-rush drills in 7-on-7 games should be shortened and boring.
“We just want to have good, competitive training and we want to keep it safe,” LaFleur said. “We want to eliminate any fighting if possible.”
He knew this was a big challenge.
“It’s football. There’s going to be competition, there’s going to be irritation,” LaFleur said. “But can you keep your composure? I think that’s part of the beauty of the game. When you’re in a real game situation, it gets irritation, it gets testy, guys start saying (bad) things. But can you keep your composure?”
Less than 30 minutes later, LaFleur was furious, running onto the field and yelling at Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto after quarterback Jordan Love, who signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension last month, was knocked to the ground and intercepted a pass.
Bonitto protested his innocence and shrugged as he looked back at LaFleur and the cheering and screaming Packers sideline.
Love later said that it was actually one of his own linemen who collided with him as he tried to release the ball.
“Zach Tom just got pushed and hit my shoulder,” Love said. “So I don’t think it had anything to do with the D-line or anything. I think just friendly fire.”
It definitely fired up his coaches and teammates.
“A lot of guys didn’t really see it and didn’t know what happened,” Love said. “We make it a point to stay away from the quarterback, so maybe they thought the D-lineman hit my arm, which I don’t think. I got hit when I threw, but I think it was by Zach Tom. I got hit by my own guy.”
There were a few rough moments during special teams drills, too, but nothing compared to 2008, when Denver lineman Ryan Clady and Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware — known as two of the nicest guys to ever play in the NFL — got into a brawl. Or 2014, when Broncos right tackle Chris Clark got so fed up with Texans star JJ Watt shoving him around that he knocked Watt’s helmet off his head with a final blow, earning him the memorable retort, “Don’t get mad when you get hit!”
The Broncos and Packers face off in Denver on Sunday, marking the first preseason appearance for Denver’s rookie quarterback Bo Nix. He led the Broncos to points on four of five drives last week in Indianapolis when Jarrett Stidham started.
LaFleur will bench most of his starters this weekend, so Friday was considered a better indicator for Nix, the former Oregon quarterback and 12th pick in the NFL draft. Nix had a mixed day, with spectacular throws and many safe passes, many of which didn’t even make it past the post.
Love also had a good day and was happy to meet Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
“He’s the heart and soul of that defense, he’s a safe corner there,” Love said.
NOTES: Payton said rookie WR DeVaughn Vele (leg), whom he held out of practice for the second straight day, is fine and may even play Sunday. When asked for details on Vele’s injury, Payton said, “Nothing concrete.”
