Redskins see tempers flare in practice

Things heat up during Washington Redskins camp, first with a shoving match, and then with Niles Paul throwing fists at Markus White.

By John Keim

Aug 4, 2012 at 6:48 pm ET • 1 min read

After a week of intense heat and with every day but one in full pads, it was bound to happen. And it did Saturday when tempers flared at Washington Redskins practice. It started with C Will Montgomery and LB London Fletcher shoving each other after a play. But no fists were thrown.

However, that wasn’t the case a minute or so later when TE Niles Paul and LB Markus White went at one another. Paul was throwing a barrage of fists at White as players rushed to separate them. CB DeAngelo Hall eventually walked Paul away from the group.

Paul said he was upset that White was rushing to block him after an interception. But, Paul said, “I’m expected to keep my poise a little better. You can’t do that in the game. You can’t afford to have a penalty, or I’m done for a couple games.”

White said, "That’s my boy; I don’t have no problems with him. A lot of times brothers get in fights, cousins get in fights, and then you’ll be like 'It’s cool.' "

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan brought the team together after the second battle, reminding players not to lose their cool and cost the team 15 yards in a game.

“You love to see guys that are competitive every time, but you can’t have guys lose their poise, because it will cost you a football game,” Shanahan said. “But you like to see the spirit, you like to see the energy, but at the same time there’s a fine line.”