NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher might have hit on the way to eliminate brawls when opposing NFL teams practice together in the preseason.
Just play the game first, then practice -- instead of the other way around.
The teams practiced together Wednesday afternoon, less than 48 hours after the Titans' 24-10 Monday night victory over the Cardinals. Both coaches talked before practice about not expecting any fights or crushing hits. With players on both teams practicing with some tired legs, no one went brawling.
"We were just curious about how it was going to be, and it turns out it was fantastic," Whisenhunt said. "Good work against a good team. I think we got a lot out of it. I told our team at the end we got better today. That's really all you can ask for. ... We're very excited and grateful to coach Fisher and the Titans' organization for letting us work with them today."
The session was scheduled because the Cardinals wanted to avoid the long flight home before flying to Chicago for Saturday's preseason game -- their third -- against the Bears. The Titans didn't mind the company before breaking training camp Thursday and their next preseason game, Saturday night at Carolina.
Fisher said they got exactly what they wanted out of the session.
"We got a lot of things accomplished, nobody got hurt, and now we can focus on Carolina, and they can focus on Chicago," he said.
There were some hard hits and collisions during plays. Titans defensive tackle Jovan Haye swung his arm at Cardinals center David Moosman during a drill in which the defense individually pass-rushes the offensive line. Titans safety Michael Griffin got physical with Cardinals receiver Darren Mougey, jumping his route and picking off a pass from Max Hall.
Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart likely got the worst with his top two receivers -- Larry Fitzgerald (right knee) and Early Doucet (abdominal strain) -- still sidelined by injuries.
During a 7-on-7 passing drill, Titans rookie Alterraun Verner intercepted a Leinart pass intended for Steve Breaston, linebacker Will Witherspoon had a pick when Leinart's pass went off tight end Jim Dray's hands, and Verner might have had the best play of the day, stripping the ball from Mike Jones after a catch.
Leinart said the work was good for the Cardinals.
"It was a totally different feel," he said. "The same periods and the same stuff like that, but it's nice to go against another team. You see different looks, different coverages. They're not sitting on a lot of our stuff because they don't know what we're running.
"It's more like a game-type thing. It was good. It was competition, and it was intense. It wasn't just a walkaround. I think both teams went really hard."
Witherspoon, a ninth-year veteran with his fourth NFL team, said he was somewhat surprised there were no fights, but with the session just two days after the teams played each other, "you want to rest your body. You're probably still feeling a little of the effects of the game.
"It is actually very strange," Witherspoon added. "You play a team, and you're coming right back up against them. Again, it's a little awkward."
Titans fullback Ahmard Hall echoed the consensus that the practice offered just good work.
"For the most part, we didn't have any drama, and we didn't need it," he said. "Tomorrow's our last day of camp. We're trying to finish up camp and roll into the season."
Notes:Cardinals LB Will Davis was hit on his bruised right knee, and Whisenhunt said he expects the player to participate in Thursday's practice at Vanderbilt University. ... Titans top draft pick Derrick Morgan participated in individual drills, his first action since Aug. 1, the day after he signed his contract. He had been limited by a strained left calf.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
