TWO BRONCOS RECEIVERS DUKE IT OUT AT CAMP
Punches were thrown. There was significant pushing and shoving. An open water bottle even flew through the air.
The skirmish unfolded less than an hour into Broncos training camp Monday with wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton requiring physical separation by teammates on the sideline during a team scrimmage period. The
pair exchanged verbal and physical jabs over the course of about 10 minutes, with offensive guard Ron Leary eventually dragging Sutton to a separate practice field to calm his nerves.
The incident was sparked by a sloppy start to Denver’s 13th training camp practice. Penalties during 11-on-11 stacked up, and when left offensive tackle Garett Bolles was flagged for a false start, running back Phillip Lindsay’s voice rang out with a stern tone. Barking from the sideline grew louder, and moments later, the Sanders-Sutton skirmish began.
After that died down, coach Vic Fangio gathered the entire team at midfield for a huddle. Cornerback Kareem Jackson said it was a call to “pick up practice” after an overall sloppy start.
“It started off kind of slow, and (Fangio) addressed that,” Jackson said. “He addressed the issue between those guys (Sanders and Sutton) and made them kiss and make up. We were all right after that. I’m sure they’re fine.”
Added Fangio: “Obviously, it’s not good. Can’t happen. Shouldn’t
“Can’t happen. Shouldn’t happen. You have to be able to react to these things and handle them the right kind of way.” Vic Fangio, Broncos coach
happen. You have to be able to react to these things and handle them the right way.”
Sutton exited toward the locker room following practice well away from the media, and Sanders declined to answer questions from reporters.
“I’ve got nothing to say today,” he said, walking away.
Sanders and Sutton make for odd sparing partners as teammates in the same position group who both played college ball at SMU.
Sutton gushed over Sanders’ work ethic in recovery from Achilles tendon surgery last month, saying: “I hope you all know that we are going to get the Emmanuel Sanders back that everybody knows.”
And Sanders was equally complimentary of Sutton through the course of his breakout rookie season a year ago: “He’s going to be in this league a long time.”
But emotion appeared to trump reason Monday to reveal a rift between hyper-competitors who separately claimed the title of No. 1 wide receiver to start Broncos training camp. The path is clearly defined for Sutton, 23, as a projected rising NFL star, while Sanders, 32, must prove he can rebound from a significant injury late in his career. One incident between the two isn’t enough to claim a fractured relationship, but Monday’s sequence of events suggests the situation bears watching.
“It happens. We’re all competitors. Things are going to get a little chippy out here,” Jackson said. “Sometimes, it can be with a guy on the same side as you. But at the end of the day, it’s about talking the issue out and moving on from it and learning from it. We’re going to compete at a high level each and every day, and sometimes it gets a little heated. That’s the way it is.”