AP

Last year, tempers flared in Carolina training camp, with a fight involving quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Josh Norman. The season turned out pretty well.

On Sunday, things got chippy in Panthers camp again. Via Bill Voth of BlackandBlueReview.com, cornerback Bene Benwikere had to be calmed down at one point by linebacker Thomas Davis and running back Jonathan Stewart.

David Newton of ESPN.com has posted a short clip of Davis trying to get Benwikere to settle down. According to David Newton, the incident included Cam Newton mocking the defense for complaining about chip blocks.

“It boiled over more than you really want,” Rivera told reporters on video posted by Voth. “And again I think the thing we all really have to understand at the end of the day is that the Panthers don’t play the Panthers. We’re not on our home schedule. And I think that’s the thing we lost sight of today. You know, the competitive nature got carried away, got a little more physical than it should have been. And the thing we’ve got to understand is we are in pads, but that doesn’t give us liberty to do some of the things that happen out there. . . .

“We had a couple guys take a couple shots that a couple guys took exception to it, more so than anything else. This was really the result of overenthusiastic play, which at this point in time, especially this time in training camp, we really don’t need unless I make it a live drill. . . . This was about guys getting hit [and] not expecting it. I didn’t have a live tempo and a couple of guys got hit.”

It’s a fine balance between controlling the team and recognizing that football is a physical game. And while Rivera said all the right things about the incident, deep down he has to be pleased with the fire that his guys are showing — especially since they will need that fire as they enter 2016 as the NFC team everyone wants to beat.