DAVIE, Fla. -- A message was sent loud and clear at Miami Dolphins headquarters: No cheap shots are allowed against teammates, especially not at the team's starting running back.
Veteran defensive lineman Gabe Wright was waived by the Dolphins on Tuesday, one day after he charged at and blindsided Kenyan Drake while the running back's helmet was off.
"It was time for us to move on. I don't really think I need to get into more detail than that," Dolphins coach Adam Gase said.
The incident occurred toward the end of a fight involving multiple players during Monday's practice. It was one of several incidents during a particularly physical and testy session.
An angry Drake tossed Wright's helmet to the sideline after the skirmish. Drake did not appear to be injured during the fight.
"Hindsight is 20/20, especially when it comes to the severity of someone getting cut in that situation," Drake said. "We've been banging for two weeks now. It's easy to sit on the outside looking in saying, 'You should have more composure.' But tempers flare. It's an unfortunate situation and I wish nothing but the best for him."
The Dolphins on Tuesday signed free-agent veteran defensive lineman Kendall Langford.
The fight started when running back Senorise Perry was tackled to the ground unnecessarily for the third time of this particular series. His offensive teammates were fed up and several players on both sides of the ball -- backups and starters -- got involved in pushing and shoving.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke wasn't happy with the fights, saying Monday that perceived intensity can be "sometimes misplaced."
"It's got to be within the context of doing what we're asking you to do and executing the scheme too," Burke said. "Just coming out here, being a jackass and running around, that doesn't help us either."
Gase said he had talked with Drake about being involved in that fight because the Dolphins can't afford to lose him in a similar situation during a game. Drake was ejected in Week 17 last season after getting in a fight sticking up for former Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
"It's a little harder to call plays when he's out of the game or he's not even available. We talked about that, and at the same time, I think he has a clear understanding we're counting on him," Gase said.
"He understood where I was coming from. I love his emotion, I love his passion. You don't want to take that away, but at the same time, he's a really good player and he's young and we need to have him on the field."
Wright, a 2015 fourth-round pick of the Lions, was running with the third team and appeared unlikely to make the roster. He spent most of 2017 on the Dolphins' practice squad.
Wright was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday.