Fists fly at Eskimos training camp

Tempers flare and fists fly quite often when teams get a few days into training camp, so it’s no surprise there were a few scraped knuckles at Edmonton Eskimos practice Tuesday.

The main event saw receiver Jamill Smith and defensive back Johnny Adams turn Commonwealth Stadium into their own private octagon with a scrap that took three other people, including head coach Jason Maas, to break up.

And, as is also quite often the case, everyone shrugged it off and had a laugh about it after.

“You’re getting into camp battles,” said Maas. “We just got done playing a game, so guys know they’re in a battle for their jobs. And it’s getting to the middle of camp so everyone is getting tired, but I love it, I love the aggression.

“If they have enough fight in them to do that, it’s great. I just want them to take care of themselves and leave it on the field. But camp is camp, aggression is going to come out of everybody.”

It started after Smith scored a touchdown on Adams, then spiked the ball at him as if to rub a little salt in the wounded pride.

It worked, because Adams went right at him. They started on their feet, took it to the turf for some ground and pound.

“We’re all out here competing, just trying to make some plays,” Adams said. “It’s camp, you have to compete. You want dogs with you and we’ve got dogs on our team. You have to expect (some bite).

“When it comes down to it, if tempers get flared and people get hot, things happen.”

Adams said the incident has already been forgotten and didn’t want to dwell on it.

“It’s over and done with,” he said. “This is a family here, a family culture. We just come out here to compete with everybody. He made me better, they make us better, we make them better. Things happen.”

Maas doesn’t keep track, but guesses there have been about five scraps in camp so far.

“That’s low, to be honest with you,” he said. “I don’t care how tight your team is, you’re still going to have them. When people are battling for their livelihood and it’s close, you’re going to have that. Guys will get chippy with each other. Our guys compete hard.”

Maas says he doesn’t have a real issue with things heating up in practice, so long as they don’t get stupid. In another scrum Tuesday it looked like a player wanted to swing a helmet at another, which is a definite no-no.

“I’m OK with it in practice as long as it stays on the field,” said Maas. “I don’t want it to carry into the locker-room. I’d rather see our guys more aggressive than not.”