Fights happen during NFL training camps, and if you were to pick a Las Vegas Raiders player who might get into one, defensive end Maxx Crosby would be at the top of the list. His intensity, perhaps recklessness, in practice is sure to rub someone the wrong way after a certain point.
On Friday, a scuffle happened at the Raiders' camp. Of course, Crosby was involved, but his "combatant" wouldn't have been on anyone's bingo card.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was not thrilled after Crosby bumped his throwing arm a second time during the day's practice. As fans know, any contact with quarterbacks is not permitted during practice, and it isn't the first time Crosby has toed or crossed that line during his career.
In a big picture sense, since Crosby may think he can run somewhat roughshod over the offense and no one will push back, it was nice that someone did push back.
To that end, and with an important caveat, head coach Klint Kubiak wasn't overly concerned about the scrap in the immediate aftermath.
"That's training camp," Kubiak said. "Those are two leaders of our team going at it. So, that is part of camp. Obviously, you fight in the game, you throw a punch in the game, especially, you're out of the game. So, we got to be smart. Treat it like a game."
Klint Kubiak has sent an undeniable message after Maxx Crosby-Kirk Cousins scrap
The Raiders were back at it on the practice field on Saturday, with a couple of notable absences once the session ramped up to live team drills. Cousins and Crosby were held out of practice for disciplinary reasons, and Kubiak talked about if after practice.
"We have very clear expectations on how we want to practice and how we want to go about our business, and we violated that yesterday, so [we] held those guys out," Kubiak said, via ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "That's all I'm going to say about it. We addressed it with the team, and we're moving on."
Crosby and Cousins weren't the only Raiders to get into a bit of a scrap on Friday. Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu and guard Caleb Rogers also did so, but they both participated in practice on Saturday.
Kubiak said Crosby and Cousins will practice on Monday, so it'll be a one-day hiatus for two team leaders who lapsed in the upholding of the standard of discipline that's being set.
And with that, Kubiak sent an unequivocal message to the rest of the roster. The rules and standards apply to everyone, no matter who you are, and discipline will come with zero regard for the name on the back of the jersey.
About time.
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