Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was ejected from practice on Tuesday after throwing a punch at teammate Cam Ward.
The incident occurred during an 11-on-11 period of practice, and Simmons' punch was directed toward Titans tackle JC Latham. According to reports, Simmons had his helmet ripped off during the scuffle, prompting the punch.
"Our policy is if you throw a punch, you're ejected in a game. Same thing with practice," Titans head coach Robert Saleh said later. "If you throw a punch, you're out of practice."
Simmons still managed to get his work in, despite being ejected from the practice field. Instead of heading to the locker room, he went to the other field to continue his training.
Simmons has been at the center of controversy before. Last year, he was involved in an intense argument with teammate Cam Ward during training camp, which led to a scuffle.
Simmons signed a massive three-year, $105.8 million contract extension with Tennessee in June, making him the richest defensive tackle in NFL history at the time. However, his status has since been surpassed by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who inked a four-year, $152 million extension in July.
The Titans will likely review the incident and take disciplinary action against Simmons. The team's policy is clear: throwing a punch, whether in a game or in practice, results in ejection. Saleh's decision to let Simmons continue his training despite being ejected suggests that the team is trying to find a balance between discipline and allowing players to get their work in.
The Titans are preparing for the upcoming season, and incidents like this one can have a significant impact on team dynamics. The team will likely address the issue in a press conference or through a statement in the coming days.
As the NFL season approaches, the Titans will need to find a way to manage their star players and prevent incidents like this one from happening in the future.
Source: Yahoo Sports