As training camp continues for the Baltimore Ravens, frustrations continue to rise for the players. For yet another day, tensions boiled over to the point of players needing to be separated.
Safeties Chuck Clark and Earl Thomas got into a heated exchange on the practice field at Under Armour Performance Center on Friday. Though neither reporters nor coach John Harbaugh knew what the argument was about, it did require people to get between the two defenders, according to Aaron Kasinitz of Penn Live,
Before people get too alarmed, this is a pretty normal thing at training camp. Seemingly every year guys get into it at practice. With the heat and humidity, as well as the nature of trying to improve and either win a roster spot or more playing time; things can sometimes get a little fiery. It happened earlier in the week as well, with rookie running back J.K. Dobbins getting into it with safety DeShon Elliott. As both Harbaugh and linebacker L.J. Fort noted following practice, these things happen. And I’m sure the coaching staff likes seeing a little fire from the players at this time of the year.
What makes this particular fight more interesting is it being between the starting safeties. It’s usual for players going up against each other rep after rep to get heated but for two guys on the same side of the ball who should be working together to get into that intense of an argument is an oddity. In my time covering the team, I can’t remember a previous instance of it happening between two players at the same position before.
While Harbaugh didn’t seem too alarmed over the argument itself, he did have a problem with how long it took. As Harbaugh continued to press after practice, the team needs to keep their eyes on the prize and prepare for the regular season and not let these moments affect the next reps.
