Chicago Bears Chairman Helps Break Up Fight During Patriots, Bears Shared Practice

The first day of preseason shared practice between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears got off to a less-than-friendly start. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had a brief fight that resulted in the two players being ejected from practice. The two were chirping at each other in the end zone and grabbed each other’s facemasks. Bears Chairman George McCaskey was on the sidelines and intervened when he saw the two getting heated.

The fight attracted more players and started a bit of pushing and shoving but nothing major.

Not sure how smart it was to pair one of the league’s best teams and one of the worst teams together for preseason. It would be a benefit for the Bears to practice against the Patriots talent but some new Chicago players might feel like they have something to prove.

Martellus Bennett has verbally expressed his disapproval for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Bennett met with Bears head coach John Fox, and offensive lineman Kyle Long before practice, but certainly not with Cutler.

Long faced off against his brother, defensive end for the Patriots, Chris Long. 27-year-old Kyle is in his fourth season with the Bears and his brother Chris, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Patriots after seven years with the Rams.  

Patriots and Bears practiced together Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before they play a preseason game against each other on Thursday.

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 13: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Chicago Bears carries the football in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on September 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Article by Lindsey Horsting