The Cincinnati Bengals host the Los Angeles Rams for joint practices this week ahead of the preseason finale and there seems to be one thing on the mind — no fights.
Buy Bengals TicketsThat’s natural for any training camp that boasts reps against another team, as they’re generally just more intense. But it’s especially so this week considering the Bengals and Rams will pick up right where they left off in the Super Bowl some months ago.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has already thrown down his expectations publicly, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press:
“We have no place for fighting. We have to be able to get 2 good days of work. These opportunities really matter, and we can’t afford to miss it for dumb s***.”
Rest assured it’s the same vibe for Zac Taylor and the Bengals. The reps are so critical that Joe Burrow — while rushing to put weight back on his frame after surgery — considers them “game reps” and more important than the final preseason game, which he’ll probably skip.
Still, McVay-Taylor connection or not, there are bound to be some additional emotions on the field in what is already a tense situation. And it sure doesn’t help that several other joint practices between teams this summer have already sparked brawls.