Green Bay Packers head coach, Matt LaFleur is considered a pretty calm, mild-mannered man -especially in comparison to other coaches.
However on Thursday, he shocked the Packers team and media by going in on current starting left tackle, Rasheed Walker, after he got into a scuffle with backup defensive end, Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare – per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
Matt LaFleur Sees Red After Player Altercation During Practice
Kraft, Rhyan, Tom, Jacobs, Morgan and Jenkins ran the lap with Walker in support.
Co-found of Cheesehead TV, Aaron Nagler, pointed out how out-of-character the behaviour was by noting that he had never seen the 45 year old get angry at a player like this in camp.
In penance, per Kyle Malzhan of WFRV Local 5 news, Walker was made to take a lap of the practice field – but his teammates would not let him do it solo.
LaFleur is normally a very composed, feet on the ground type during camp. But it is clear that something about the fight between the pair must have something out of the ordinary – the nature of which is not apparent as of now.
Rasheed Walker Responds To Getting ‘Hairdryer Treatment’ From LaFleur
Walker subsequently sat down with 97.3 The Game, where he spoke about what happened at practice earlier in the day.
“Offense going hard. Defense going hard. High intensity. Stuff happens.”
When asked about what happened in the skirmish, Walker responded with, “Offense going hard. Defense going hard. High intensity. Stuff happens.”
The reporters then followed up with a question regarding what LaFleur told him after practice.
“Practice smarter. Be better. Be better at practice,” Walker answered in an almost Belichick-ian way.
For Walker, his job may be on the line this training camp. With 2024 first round pick, Jordan Morgan, and second round rookie, Anthony Belton both in the mix to get a crack at one of the potentially vacant spots on the offensive line; left tackle and right guard; the former seventh round pick is hardly assured to be with the first team ahead of week 1 – especially if he induces the ire of head coach, LaFleur, once more.
But, at the end of the day, things happen during camp – as Walker points out – and it is unlikely that either party will take this too much to heart.
Matt LaFleur ‘Furious’ At Player Over ‘Extracurriculars’ With DE