Titans, Rams joint practices open with punches flying

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Coaches and seasons change.

Tension whenever the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams get together doesn't.

These teams had some feisty joint practices back in 2000, months after St. Louis beat the Titans in the Super Bowl. It didn't take long for tempers to flare up again Wednesday as the teams gathered for a joint practice, as Rams receiver Reche Caldwell grabbed Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan in a bear hug and took him to the ground.

St. Louis coach Scott Linehan was watching his defense with rookie end Chris Long going against the Tennessee offense and Vince Young when he heard some of the grumblings two fields over.

"We've got to limit that," Linehan said. "We can't get to where we lose our cool out here. It's that time of year. Guys aren't in very good moods out here. We've just got to make sure we continue to get better. It's good to see us compete and those things. We'll get rid of the extracurricular stuff."

That included Pro Bowl defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch skirmishing with Rams left tackle Adam Goldberg. After being blocked to the ground on his rush, Vanden Bosch took a big swing at Goldberg.

The head coaches tried to calm things down. But on the next play, Titans end Sean Conover tangled with St. Louis tackle Mark LeVoir, with Vanden Bosch rushing in to help, without his helmet.

"We were anticipating it, and we need that as a football team," Rams receiver Torry Holt said. "After a while it kind of got excessive as far as the banging and guys trying us. We needed that. That's something we're trying to build on is our toughness and at the same time build on our mental toughness."

Wednesday's first practice was the only session in full pads. Tensions eased in the afternoon, though it didn't pass quietly. Titans running back Quinton Ganther ran over a Rams defender in a drill, and Titans safety Calvin Lowry and Rams receiver Derek Stanley shoved a bit.

"They ended up helping each other off the ground, which is what you like to see because there's a lot of respect for what people go through at this time of camp," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.