'Football is Football': How Rams Aaron Donald Avoided Joint Practice Fight

Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald is no stranger to a scuffle on a practice field and is now using his experience to keep his emotions in check.

The Los Angeles Rams' first day of joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders made headlines due to a training camp fight, which has become commonplace in the NFL and may have even struck up déjà vu for fans. 

Except, unlike last year's big brawl during a practice with the Cincinnatti Bengals, star defensive tackle Aaron Donald wasn't involved in Wednesday's scrap, which also means no one was swinging a helmet. 

Instead, it was Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and Rams running back Cam Akers who were at the center of the scrap on Wednesday; while the cooler head of Donald may have prevailed this go around as he managed to avoid a fight over the two days of joint practices. Although it should be noted Donald did not participate in practice on Wednesday due to a rest day.

“Not too much stuff, but obviously football is football,” Donald said after Thursday's practice. “You’re going to have those days when (it’s) a little chippy, but it comes with it. But it was a good day’s work.”

Despite the Crosby vs. Akers fight making its rounds on social media, as the Rams running back was later kicked out of practice following the scrap, Donald revealed afterward that he didn't see the fight when it went down.

“Who won? I was asking both of them,” Donald said with a laugh. "I had them together. I was like, ’Who won? ‘I won, I won.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m going to say it’s a tie.’”

A tie will do in this situation, yet it won't be good enough come the season as the Rams look to bounce back from their Super Bowl hangover season, which saw them finish with a dismal 5-12 record. 

As for the 32-year-old star defensive tackle, he is also looking to rebound after missing the final six games of last season due to an ankle injury that required surgery. Yet, now back to full health and still boasting his eye-opening physique, Donald will look to re-assert himself as one of the best players of this generation.

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