FIGHT: Jake Dixon, Steelers Defense Brawl at End of Practice
UNITY TWP., Pa. — There were plenty of fireworks to end Friday’s third training camp practice. Jake Dixon along with Carlos Davis, Khalil Davis, Tuzar Skipper, and others was involved in the scuffle. It was a brawl that ended with punches being thrown and a stern talking to by Mike Tomlin afterward. The Steelers fight was an extremely noteworthy part of the practice.
While the skirmish was physical, it was started by some jawing between Dixon and a defensive lineman. As it went on, things became increasingly heated, with a punch being thrown and Carlos Davis coming into the fray heated. It turned into a melee as the sides were separated.
Dixon shrugged it all off as just being about football. It is something that happens every year in Latrobe and at other camps around the country. However, this one was proceeded by a short scuffle between Kendrick Green and Carlos Davis earlier in the day. Thus, this Steelers fight was boiling up all of the practice. Still, Dixon is paying no mind to what people are saying about what may have occurred.
“Listen, these guys are really talented,” Dixon said. “This is one of the best defenses in the world. Those guys are going to fight to get the ball. You never know when you let up for that half second when there is a difference between us playing the next down or our defense running out on the field. You have to play through the whistle and sometimes things like that happen. It’s camp. Everybody is competing. They’re trying to get better, but it is us trying to better ourselves.”
As usual with situations like these, Mike Tomlin is not paying it any mind. While Tomlin gave a stern talking to the entire group after the practice was over, he made sure to set the record that this was a simple aspect of competition and football. There is no bad blood, even though these fights are certainly not encouraged.
“I’m not going to answer questions about every skirmish that breaks out,” Tomlin said. “We’re working hard, we’re competing our tails off. An environment like this is an opportunity to learn and teach from a professional standpoint. We must work to keep it professional. From time to time it happens and none of us like it, but it’s a teaching opportunity.”
Physicality was the name of the game with Damontae Kazee laying a hit on Calvin Austin and the two skirmishes that occurred. Simply put, the Steelers had just a little bit more pep in their step today, and that fight showed some of that fire.
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