Julian Edelman and Stephon Gilmore tossed out of practice after scuffle

Boston.com / AP Photo

Both Julian Edelman and Stephon Gilmore have "been told to leave" Tuesday's training camp practice after an altercation, per ESPN's Mike Reiss:

Julian Edelman has been told to leave practice after starting a fight with CB Stephon Gilmore after an incomplete end-zone pass.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 1, 2017

Julian Edelman took exception to Stephon Gilmore holding him and then wrestled with him on the ground. Gilmore has also been told to leave.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 1, 2017

As Reiss also pointed out, ejections from Pats practice aren't as unusual as they are with some other teams. That's thanks to Bill Belichick's strict no-fighting rule--even players engaging in 10-15 second tussles, like Edelman and Gilmore today, are kicked out. Just last year, for example, Gilmore's partner Malcolm Butler was tossed for shoving then-Chicago Bear Alshon Jeffrey.

While fights are dangerous and divisive, they do signal one good thing: loads of competitive spirit. Hopefully Gilmore and Edelman can put the skirmish behind them and use that spirit to help the Patriots repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

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