Tempers flared at Carolina Panthers’ training camp Monday morning when a fight between quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Josh Norman ended up on the ground.
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Newton pursued and felt Norman hit him.
According to ESPN.com, the mini-brawl broke out after Newton shoved Norman while tackling following Norman’s interception of the star QB. As he was being pulled from the bottom of the pile, Newton yelled to Norman, “Hit me like that again and you’ll know something”.
Newton did not respond to two questions from Observer reporters as he walked off the field toward the locker room following practice. Both players were requested for interview sessions later in the day.
The irony is that early in practice, Rivera was so displeased with the intensity that the defense was bringing that he stopped practice and called them together. The big thing is you have to be able to handle it because it’s going to happen in the game.
“There’s enough quality leadership on this football team that we know how to end things”, Rivera said.
There aren’t many quarterbacks in the NFL who would be able to hold their own in a fight on the football field, but, in this case, Newton is probably the favorite.
“Unfortunately, it got a little more physical than it needed to be”.
Rivera said he isn’t anxious about the incident spilling over into the dorms where players stay. The Panthers can not be too happy seeing their franchise quarterback risk injury to fight one of his fellow teammates.
“Remember, I played with Jim McMahon”, he said.
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The intensity at practice picked up from there.
