SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A push here, a shove there -- the second day of joint practices between the Broncos and San Francisco 49ers featured several skirmishes, with Denver coach Vance Joseph reminding his team of where the line needs to be between aggressive and "idiots."
"We want to be smart bullies; we don't want to be idiots," Joseph said after Thursday's practice. "We don't want to get penalties that cost us big plays in games. ... We want to be aggressive, but not hurt our football team with selfish penalties. When you're fighting your guy one-on-one and that hurts us, that's about you. And that's selfish, and we don't want that."
After the two teams largely behaved in Wednesday's practice, Thursday's was far more surly almost from the start. At one point, players from the Broncos' offense and 49ers' defense who were not taking part in a play that was being run clashed in team drills.
Later, Broncos tackle Menelik Watson had to be restrained by tight end Austin Traylor -- Traylor actually leaped onto Watson's back to bear hug him at one point -- after the two groups clashed again following a play in a run-game drill.
On an adjacent field, the Broncos' defense and the 49ers' offense had their tense moments as well -- none more so than after Broncos safety Justin Simmons intercepted a pass.
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who had blocked 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon during the return, clashed with Garcon when he went after Talib following the play.
"It was definitely dirty. ... That's why I don't like these," Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. "Things like that can happen."
This marks Joseph's first training camp as Broncos coach. He said he likes the work but didn't like the extracurricular activities. He said he would still consider having one or two sets of joint practices with another team next summer if the travel could be worked out.
"I think it works for you if you can do it without the fighting and the pushing and shoving," Joseph said. "It's great work for teams to see a different scheme and for players as far as the evaluation process ... but one's good with me right now, and maybe two next year."
