A locker room fight cost Geno Smith a broken jaw, along with a month of playing time and forced IK Enemkpali to change zip codes. Two practice scuffles on Sunday earned the entire New York Jets' team wind sprints.
While no punches were reportedly thrown, coach Todd Bowles is trying to rein in the trash talk and unnecessary, after-play physicality.
"We understand that we can talk mess and we can jaw at each other," Bowles said, per the Associated Press. "As long as the hits are clean, we're fine. But we've got to take care of each other at the same time. There's no cutting and there's no hitting in the back and those types of things. There's no cheap shots. If it's good clean play, I don't have a problem. They can talk all day."
There is a distinct difference between on-field skirmishes and locker-room fights and Bowles concedes the punishment isn't likely to completely curtail the practice fighting. His goal is to make sure they don't spill over into when the games count -- and those actions cost the team 15 yards -- or accidentally get someone hurt.
"Testosterone," Bowles said, explaining why fights happen in practice. "You get tired, guys are out there for a long time. It's football ...
"We're not trying to hurt each other," he added. "At the end of the day, we all need each other, but it's a fine line. The mess-talking, the bravado and swagger and everything is fine, but you have to understand situational football at the same time. You can't fight and be braggadocious and be loud if you don't understand what's going on in the game.
"That makes for a dumb player and we are not trying to have dumb players."
The Jets already cut one player for a dumb decision. Bowles would like to eradicate as much dim-witted behavior as he can.
