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Scuffle means running "after" practice

It was mostly a routine final-practice-before-a-game Thursday at University of Phoenix Stadium, but then it got very interesting at the end. No, that's not referring to the first meeting with the media for linebacker John Abraham, who returned to the team after missing the first 20 days of training camp. Instead, it came on the field. The Cardinals ran a nice pass play with tight end John Carlson coming across the field for the catch and heading for a touchdown. That's where all the eyes were until suddenly there were coaches yelling and a host of players -- it seemed like 15 or 20 already -- near the line of scrimmage in a group. A scuffle had started, although with so many people, it was impossible to know who had been in it.

At this point, Bruce Arians had made very, very clear how he feels about things like that. The other day, Darnell Dockett and Bradley Sowell had been made to take laps, but obviously, the message didn't stick. So Arians went to the next level, stopping practice altogether to make the entire squad -- save for the guys sitting out because of injuries -- run sprints from sideline to sideline. Up and back they went six times, before Arians called the team together in a huddle. It seemed like practice was over, and Arians even left the field. But the players did not, and after a couple of minutes, 11-on-11 commenced for a little while longer. Arians even came back on the field, although it was clear he was angry.

"It's camp and stuff like that happens," cornerback Justin Bethel said. "We've just got to know that we're a team and stick together. We're trying to win a championship, and we can't be fighting amongst each other. It's all about team. Team is what it takes is our slogan right now. We just had to do some extra conditioning and put it behind us.

"(Coach) made his point, and we already knew where he stood with that. Some guys, they lose their tempers, and it happens, but we've just got to keep on moving forward."

As for the end of practice, "I think some of the players on the team just decided we wanted to finish up practice because every play is important for us," Bethel said. "I think they decided among themselves, 'Let's go ahead and just finish up practice because we didn't have much left.' "

-- Abraham did not practice in his first day back, getting a physical and meeting with the strength and conditioning coaches to see where his fitness was. Abraham said it might take a few days to get back on the practice field but said he was confident he'll be ready for the regular season.

-- Arians said wide receivers Michael Floyd and Ted Ginn will travel to Minnesota and could still possibly play against the Vikings. It does not look as good for guard Jonathan Cooper (toe), linebacker Kevin Minter (pectoral) and defensive tackle Bruce Gaston (knee).

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