Butler, Jeffery ignite scuffle at Patriots-Bears joint practice

Tempers flared at a joint practice held between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears on Monday, and it all started with a high-profile matchup of receiver and cornerback.

According to multiple beat writers in attendance, a benches-clearing scrum broke out after a fight between Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery.

The two star talents were reportedly pushing after a whistle, and teammates on both sides got involved when Bears tight end Greg Scruggs stepped up to shove Butler.

Butler was sent to the locker room immediately after the incident, bringing his day of on-field work to an early end. Jeffery, meanwhile, remained on the sidelines for the team drills that followed.

Training camp fights are no rarity, but the latest scuffle will add some intrigue when the two sides go head-to-head in a preseason matchup Thursday.