Brawl in Packers vs Seahawks practice: Zach Tom ejected for fight

Tempers flare in joint practice between Packers and Seahawks

Tempers flared and punches flew during a fight-filled joint practice Thursday between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. The two-hour session at the Packers’ practice facility was marked by approximately a dozen skirmishes, including some that escalated into full-blown fights. Packers right tackle Zach Tom was ejected after one of them, following an exchange of blows with Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, in what quarterback Jordan Love described as one of the biggest fights he’s seen in his career.

I think when you see both sidelines emptying, it’s tough. You try to do your best to separate them and things like that, but it’s going to happen, man. I don’t know. There’s no answer for that.

Jordan Love

According to Tom, their fight started when Jones entered the Green Bay huddle, trying to go after a Packers ball carrier after they had faced off on the previous play.

It’s already disrespectful that they’re in our huddle, and then someone gets hit while we’re in the huddle, you have to have some pride, you know?

Zach Tom

When asked if he agreed with the decision to expel him from the practice, Tom said: “I feel like, yeah, I can have better control, not throwing punches, but I don’t know. It is what it is, you know? I can only control what I can control.” The situation wasn’t much more peaceful at the other end of the field, where Seattle’s offense and Green Bay’s defense repeatedly clashed during 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven periods. A Packers defensive player threw a punch at Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford during the most heated of those incidents. The final 11-on-11 periods went without incident, but immediately after practice ended, players from both teams converged at midfield and began arguing with each other. That resumed moments later as the Seahawks headed inside.

In general, I didn’t like that they came to our sideline while practice was over. We already broke the huddle, our guys are on our side, their guys are on their side, and people are coming. It’s difficult with these joint practices because that kind of thing always happens. You don’t want it to happen, but it happens. We try to avoid it as much as possible, but I didn’t appreciate it.

Leonard Williams

The Seahawks coach, Mike Macdonald, who spent the whole day with Seattle’s defense, didn’t seem too bothered by the fights. He began his post-practice press session by thanking Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the organization for receiving them. When asked if he agreed with all the fights, he said he’s in a middle ground between being worried and accepting that they are a reality of joint practices.

It’s hard to say what happened, who said what. Look, you want your guys to defend their teammates. There’s a line. If we go past the line, I don’t think we did, which is good. Our guys stayed composed. But some of these things tend to happen, and however they start… hopefully it’s not our guys, but people are going to react to a certain extent. I think our guys handled it pretty well.

Mike Macdonald

Love, who underwent thumb surgery on August 12, only participated in individual drills and seven-on-seven. He said he made sure to stay away from the fights given the circumstances.

I’m kind of just wandering around, making sure everyone’s okay and seeing what’s going on. But definitely, especially now with the injury, I’m not going to get into any fights right now, so I’m going to stay away.

Jordan Love

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold gave a joking response when asked what he does in those situations.

I dive right in, man. That’s my time to shine. I dive right into the middle.

Sam Darnold