Maroon87
08-10-2006, 08:43 PM
Titans rookie White brawls with teammate at practice
Associated Press
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Rookie running back LenDale White got into a brawl Thursday morning with a teammate at the Tennessee Titans training camp.
The rookie out of Southern California, who fell to the 45th pick in the draft overall in April, started clashing with the defense on a running play. He was walking back toward the huddle when bumped.
White walked back, and safety Donnie Nickey pushed back at the rookie with his helmet. A recording by a television cameraman picked up linebacker Keith Bulluck yelling that White had spit in Nickey's face.
A few plays later, White couldn't catch an outlet pass from Matt Mauck when hit by rookie Cortland Finnegan.
Nickey ran upfield and shoved White in the back. White elbowed safety Vincent Fuller amid more pushing and shoving. Nickey threw at least one punch before a group of players were separated, and he walked off, took off his helmet and threw it on the ground.
That prompted an angry response from coach Jeff Fisher. Practice ended a few plays later, and Fisher called the team together on the field for a brief speech before letting them leave.
Fisher said later he found out what happened, what he called a violation of the code of ethics, and he apologized to Nickey.
"I didn't know everything, but there's stuff that goes on out there that shouldn't have gone on out there. Donnie understands, and LenDale understands he crossed the line. You just don't do that. It will not happen again. I assure you it will not happen again," Fisher said.
White, who dropped into the second round after questions about his weight and inability to run before the NFL draft because of a torn right hamstring, has been working behind Chris Brown and Travis Henry in the rotation at running back.
White walked by reporters as he left the practice saying: "No comment, no comment, no comment."
Nickey, a three-year veteran out of Ohio State, also declined to comment.
Copyright 2006 by Associated Press
Associated Press
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Rookie running back LenDale White got into a brawl Thursday morning with a teammate at the Tennessee Titans training camp.
The rookie out of Southern California, who fell to the 45th pick in the draft overall in April, started clashing with the defense on a running play. He was walking back toward the huddle when bumped.
White walked back, and safety Donnie Nickey pushed back at the rookie with his helmet. A recording by a television cameraman picked up linebacker Keith Bulluck yelling that White had spit in Nickey's face.
A few plays later, White couldn't catch an outlet pass from Matt Mauck when hit by rookie Cortland Finnegan.
Nickey ran upfield and shoved White in the back. White elbowed safety Vincent Fuller amid more pushing and shoving. Nickey threw at least one punch before a group of players were separated, and he walked off, took off his helmet and threw it on the ground.
That prompted an angry response from coach Jeff Fisher. Practice ended a few plays later, and Fisher called the team together on the field for a brief speech before letting them leave.
Fisher said later he found out what happened, what he called a violation of the code of ethics, and he apologized to Nickey.
"I didn't know everything, but there's stuff that goes on out there that shouldn't have gone on out there. Donnie understands, and LenDale understands he crossed the line. You just don't do that. It will not happen again. I assure you it will not happen again," Fisher said.
White, who dropped into the second round after questions about his weight and inability to run before the NFL draft because of a torn right hamstring, has been working behind Chris Brown and Travis Henry in the rotation at running back.
White walked by reporters as he left the practice saying: "No comment, no comment, no comment."
Nickey, a three-year veteran out of Ohio State, also declined to comment.
Copyright 2006 by Associated Press