LATROBE, Pa. - Lawrence Timmons insisted it wasn't anything personal and Devin Gardner maintained it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
But when the veteran linebacker met the rookie quarterback/wide receiver in the middle of the practice field after a pass reception on Sunday afternoon, the resulting open-field hit could be heard as well as noticed.
"Just playin' ball out there," Timmons said. "I don't really think of numbers and names.
"Nothing personal, just trying to do my job, not really targeting anyone. I'm a linebacker."
Timmons delivered a high, hard blow and appeared to get all of Gardner in the process.
But Gardner held on and even managed to stay on his feet.
Turns out he was just doing what was expected, as well.
"I kinda saw him right after I caught it," Gardner said. "After I felt it I knew who it was.
"That's my job."
One of them, at least, for the former Michigan quarterback with a two-position designation on the roster.
"I'm just trying to make the team," said Gardner, a former quarterback at Michigan. "That's what you're supposed to do. I don't think you deserve a pat on the back for doing what you're supposed to do."
