Cam and Geno

NFL Summer Camps are always a time of bonding, with anticipation of a new season waiting in the wings as teammates are brought back together to re-acclimate themselves to the gridiron. It creates an atmosphere of camaraderie that is unlike any other in sports, as the grind of two-a-days bring togetherness and cooperation...

...So why on earth are all of these teams fighting each other?

The past few days we have seen the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans get into a fracas at a scrimmage that the teams had to be separated to different practice fields. That is almost expected nowadays, as the push comes to shove when teams are anxious to make contact with anyone in a helmet and pads. However, what happened yesterday and earlier today is on a different level, as these rumbles involve quarterbacks.

Let's start in Carolina, where Panthers franchise quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Josh Norman engaged in fisticuffs after Newton threw an interception and Norman began to talk back. Although no one was hurt and the two made amends quickly, questions about Newton's growth have been put into question.

Speaking of lack of growth, New York Jets QB Geno Smith has been a lightning rod of controversy since arriving in Gotham for his immature antics. Whether it's missing practice due to attending a movie showing or displaying a slew of outbursts after throwing another interception, Smith has shown that he has yet to grasp the size of the enormous responsibility of the most important position in sports. This cumulated today as now former teammate Ik Enemkpali, who reportedly "sucker punched" Smith in the Jets locker room over an alleged dispute over money. Smith is out 6-10 weeks and an already fragile season for the Jets is even more in doubt.

Even though there have been quarterbacks in fights before (Roger Staubach/Clint Long come to mind) no one ever challenged the pedigree of "Captain Comeback." Newton and Smith came into the league with a shadow cast over them for the way they carried themselves before taking a snap, and when they are playing a position in which the most responsibility is placed upon them, it creates even more hesitation as to trust them to make the wisest decisions to lead their teams to victory. Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter and former NFL Front Office executive Louis Riddick came out and mentioned that these incidents show a lack of leadership, and that is where the responsibility lies, on the guys who wear the red jerseys in practice.

They are expected to rise above the fray, even when everything else around them is breaking down. Teams should expect their leaders in the huddle to be the epicenter of maturity and wisdom, and had these quarterbacks demonstrated the qualities that comes with the position, it never escalates to this situation. Owners who spend millions upon these players trust that they will make the right decisions, and today we know at least two of them who are shaking their heads.

I remember something my father always tells me regarding leadership, "If you are going somewhere and no one is following, all you're doing is taking a walk." Right now that walk in Charlotte and New York must be quite lonely.