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Chargers’ brawl with Rams should only be viewed as a positive

By Matt Pagels

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: LA Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman and participants pose for a photo during the 2017 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon on March 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images for LA Marathon)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: LA Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman and participants pose for a photo during the 2017 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon on March 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images for LA Marathon) /
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The Los Angeles Chargers participated in a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams at the UC Irvine training facility Wednesday, the second time in training camp that these teams practiced together. Things got a little out of hand as three fights broke out.

Aggressive mentality.

It’s something the Chargers have lacked over the years. I’m not taking away from the players’ passion for the game, especially quarterback Philip Rivers’ feistiness, but it’s not wrong to say that the team has been perceived as soft by others around the league.

It starts at the top with the coach. And with Anthony Lynn taking over, we are seeing a change in the culture.

In Wednesday’s practice with the Rams, the Chargers got into a few scuffles–and it was refreshing to see/hear. With social media being so popular these days, plenty of teams are caught on camera (by both reporters and fans) whenever there is a fight/controversy, mainly including ones that happen between teammates (Ex.: Patriots WR Julian Edelman and new CB Stephon Gilmore recently fought during practice).

For the Chargers, it feels like zero fights have been documented in the past, or have even been brought up in press conferences. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially since it could lead to injury; but when the Chargers and Rams went at it, I got fired up, as should you.

Three fights took place, two involving Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines, who tussled with Chargers wide receiver Jamaal Jones and defensive end Chris McCain.

But the one that stood out was the altercation that involved Chargers No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen. During one-on-one drills, Chargers’ Dontrelle Inman and Rams’ Trumaine Johnson got in each other’s faces before Johnson took his helmet off and threw a punch at Inman. Johnson’s teammate, Nickell Robey-Coleman, then ran up and pushed Inman, who was caught off guard, to the ground.

As the brawl began to break out, Allen came out of nowhere and body-slammed Robey-Coleman. @BlueMambaSports was in perfect position to see the whole thing:

Five minutes into 1-on-1's and the "Fight for LA" has begun #RamsCamp pic.twitter.com/GQ4tEP2kat

— Maximo Blu Gonzales (@BluMambaSports) August 10, 2017

Obviously the #FightForLA is coming into full gear. Tensions are high and it’s cool to see the team not backing off.

But what did we really learn from this? That Allen is guaranteed to get a call to audition for the WWE.

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