Acting Up: A Recent History of NFL Training Camp Shenanigans

Image via Complex Original

Team: Washington Redskins
When: August 1997

There are scuffles and then there are beatdowns. This incident between Michael Westbrook's fists and Stephen Davis' face was clearly a case of the latter. Westbrook was fined $50K for the incident. A couple years after his NFL career was over, Westbrook had a brief MMA stint accumulating a record of 1-1 with one no contest before calling it quits. Beating the living hell out of your teammate? Pretty easy. Doing the same against dudes who fight for a living? Not so much.

Sidebar: This epic beatdown was originally caught on tape by a local TV crew. The footage has to be out there somewhere! *prays to the Interwebs Gods*

Team: Oakland Raiders
When: August 2003

Things get heated during training camps. Scuffles among teammates happen but careers being ended as a result? Yes, unfortunately that has happened too. Bill Romanowski broke Marcus Williams eye socket during a training camp scrimmage. Williams was never able to play football again and sued Romanowski for $3.4 million, they later settled for $340,000. Damn, roid rage ain't nothing to fuck with.

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
When: August 2005
During a dispute with the Eagles over his $49 million, seven-year contract, T.O. was suspended from practices and opted to host his own workout session/press conference in his driveway. T.O. is all kinds of crazy, in both good and bad ways. You've seen the bad, but he showed a hint of the good while doing his exercise exhibition. His freakish work ethic led to him running a jaw-dropping 4.5 40 time at the ripe old age of 38 last week. Let's see if he'll be able to keep his current gig a bit longer than his buddy Chad.

Team: San Francisco 49ers
When: August 2007
San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker Parys Haralson got into a brief scrap following drills. Neither Davis nor Haralson was suspended for the scuffle but Davis reportedly showed him . Davis and Haralson both came from the 2006 draft class. The sonning that happened is the difference between a first- and fifth-rounder.

Team: Carolina Panthers
When: August 2008
During an altercation with cornerback Ken Lucas, wideout Steve Smith punched and broke Lucas' nose. Smith later apologized and was given a two-game suspension by the Panthers. This was Smith's second fight with a teammate—in 2002 he broke fellow wideout Anthony Bright's nose during a film session. We have to wonder, is this some sort of sick tradition for Smith?

Team: Denver Broncos
When: August 2009
Unhappy with the current terms of his contract and desperate for a trade, wide receiver Brandon Marshall gave half-ass effort during team practices. As a result, he was suspended for two preseason games by the Broncos. That season Marshall went on to break Terrell Owens' single-game reception record, to which T.O. said: "No more deserving of a guy than he is. He's just been a hard worker...I wish him well. He's going to have a great career." Bitchassness recognizes bitchassness?

When: August 2009
During a training camp meeting, Oakland assistant defensive coach Randy Hanson suffered a broken jaw after Tom Cable allegedly struck him and threw him into furniture. Hanson decided to press charges, but the Napa, Calif. district attorney later said no charges would be filed against Cable. The Raiders' motto of "commitment to excellence" has been more like a commitment to fuckery. Where's JaMarcus Russell and his sizzurp when you need it?

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
When: August 2009
Jason Babin made headlines during the '09 preseason by starting five fights with teammates during the first few weeks of training camp. Babin only spent one season with the Eagles before signing with the Titans the following spring. The defensive end rejoined the Eagles in 2011 and went on to become a Pro Bowler. What a difference a couple years and some maturity makes.

Team: Dallas Cowboys
When: July 2010
Back in his rookie season Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant refused to carry the pads of veteran wide receiver Roy Williams. The carrying of veteran's pads is a common (and very light) rookie-hazing tradition in the NFL. Fast forward a couple years and Dez is now in hot water for allegedly hitting his own mother. #smh #willheeverlearn?

Team: Washington Redskins
When: July/August 2010
After signing a 7-year/$100 million contract in 2009, Albert Haynesworth couldn't pass coach Mike Shanahan's conditioning test. Being a lineman does require a certain amount of size, but c'mon all Haynesworth needed was to say was "Hey, Hey, Hey" and his transformation would have been complete to America's beloved big guy. The Redskins later released him. Fast forward a couple years and Haynesworth is once again a free agent after the Bucs released him in February.

Team: Carolina Panthers
When: July 2012
Coming off a 6-10 season, Panthers lineman Ryan Kalil took out a full page ad in the Charlotte Observer guaranteeing a Super Bowl victory this season. Cam Newton did have a tremendous rookie season, but this is a bit too brash. Unfortunately for Kalil, as Rick Pitino might say, Jake Delhomme, Stephen Davis and Julius Peppers aren't walking through those doors!

Team: New York Jets
When: July/August 2012
As if adding Tim Tebow and the ensuing QB controversy with Mark Sanchez wasn't enough drama, the Jets decided to have a few fights at training camp. If you couldn't tell from what we said yesterday, we've grown pretty tired of the Jets and their antics. From bogus predictions to general arrogance, the team embarrasses itself on a regular basis. Luckily for them, they added the only man on the planet that might be able to pull off a miracle help them win. Even if he can't throw the ball.

Team: Miami Dolphins
When: August 2012
Just when it looked like his NFL career was getting back on track the receiver formerly known as Chad Ochocinco caught a domestic violence charge for allegedly headbutting his wife and former Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada. Already on thin ice after a disappointing season with the Patriots, Johnson's career very well might be over. NFL comeback? Over. Reality show? Cancelled. Marriage? Done. If you're having a bad week just be thankful you're not this dude. #thingscanalwaysbeworse