Overreactions from Steelers Nation: The fight at training camp
Welcome to my weekly edition of “Overreactions from Steelers Nation” a weekly column where I poke fun at fans, reporters, and so-called experts while trying to figure out if some of these hot takes are real – or just for attention.
Football is physical and competitive, regardless of the scenario in which the game is being played. Even in training camp, players are pushing themselves to the limit in their bid to claim a place in the team. This was evident at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week as the team put on pads for the first time which escalated the level of potential violence.
As the hits become real, it’s still practice: million-dollar athletes do not want to be injured before the season starts. Others may have tempers flare for other reasons in the competitive environment, especially with 90-degree heat throughout the week leading to fatigue and frustration.
Fans may think that the coaches have lost control of the team, but it’s really no cause for concern. If you were planning to back the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl, there is nothing about the fight that should lead you to change your mind. As it currently stands, bet365 Ontario do not consider the Steelers to be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
These elements combusted during the week at Pittsburgh’s training camp as many outlets reported a “fight” that broke out on Wednesday. But was it much ado over nothing? Let’s take a look.
What Happened?
When practicing a read option running play, there was a collision involving quarterback Justin Fields, CB Beanie Bishop, and LB Elandon Roberts. Bishop and Roberts collided with Fields a little more aggressively than some of their teammates would’ve preferred: namely, the offensive linemen took exception to the hit on their quarterback, and as is in their nature, they stood up to protect him.
It didn’t take long for other players to get involved. Rookie OT Troy Fautanu pushed Roberts in the back while another rookie, OG Mason McCormick, also decided to get in on the action.
Joey Porter Jr. was the next player to get involved and he started throwing punches at McCormick before offensive lineman Ryan McCollum hit Patrick Queen. By that point, several players were involved, but it did not take long for the skirmish to end.
https://twitter.com/nfcnorthnewss/status/1818726121883812074
What didn’t happen
You’ve probably seen a few versions of this floating around social media: and like most things you see on the Internet, you shouldn’t believe everything you see. One version of the “fight” tries to take the (non-existent) quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to another level.
Anything being reported between Wilson and Fields having tension is a lie, and a bad one at that. Wilson recently returned to practice on a limited basis this week and wasn’t anywhere near the skirmish. In fact, you can see him standing on the sidelines.
Due to a calf injury to Wilson, Fields has been taking the first-team reps through the first two weeks of camp. Wilson has been participating in some, but not all drills, and usually with third team players. That is not indicative of his status for the Steelers starting quarterback job, but has been played up by those not at camp – much like this fight – as a storyline for clicks and views.
Don’t buy it. It’s a lie.
Steelers aren’t wearing pads today, but that’s not stopping them from getting chippy.
Big scrum just broke out at the end of a team drill. Anderson Hardy and rookie Logan Lee in the middle of it. DeMarvin Leal also came in swinging.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 1, 2024
But wait, there’s more?
It was not the first time and certainly will not be the last time we will see a fight between two or more players on the same NFL team. In fact, another fight, that lasted longer, occurred the very next day!
This brawl involved DeMarvin Leal, who has shifted to playing as on the edge of the defensive line, and one of the Steelers reserve offensive linemen. (Who couldn’t be identified easily, even by my own account. I believe it was OT Dylan Cook.)
Positives from fighting?
The Steelers odds have nothing to do with what happened in practice. Fights happen and blow over quickly. Despite the negative context in which they occur there can be positives to take from an incident like the one seen at the Steelers training camp.
First, the offensive line is keen to protect their quarterback. That shows the offensive players have respect for Fields and that will mean a lot to him as the season approaches. With Russell Wilson inching his way back from his calf injury, the offensive line knows how important it is to keep Fields protected: and it showed during this incident.
The defensive line also showed some unity, and they were not afraid to step in when they felt it was necessary.
Secondly, it shows what the players would do if such an incident happens in a game this coming season. Head Coach Mike Tomlin might have a word with a few of his players but he would not want them to back down in an NFL game. If anything, the brawl might make the Steelers a little bit sharper come the beginning of the NFL season.
With scrimmages against the Buffalo Bills set ahead of the second preseason game between the two teams, we should anticipate more skirmishes in the coming weeks. In this one, thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. Every player seemed to get up and walk away without any problems.
There were a couple of blows to the head when the players were on the ground, which is not something you want to see, especially in a real game. The referees who were on location threw flags, as they would in a game situation. The fight was over so quickly that there was no lasting damage, but we’ve seen other NFL players punch helmets and hurt their hands in the past.
In addition to the physical side of the sport, there is the mental side of the game to consider. The Steelers need to be smarter. Penalties and injuries could be the result of these altercations in game situations. However, the aftermath of this specific “brawl” is a nothing burger that will hopefully be forgotten quickly, especially since it didn’t happen in the way that most are “reporting”
