While Ken Lucas is back practicing with the Panthers this afternoon after getting beaten up by teammate Steve Smith on Friday, not all is finer in Carolina. Yes, Smith issued an apology for his actions this morning, and both he and Lucas say they’ve talked about the fight and are putting it behind them, but it turns out that Smith isn’t the only one who is going to miss some time thanks to the melee.

While Steve has been suspended by the team for their first two regular season games, it turns out Ken is going to miss 2-3 weeks, too, thanks to surgery he’s going to need on his nose.

From PRO FOOTBALL TALK:

The irony in all of this is that the fight, as we hear it, started because teammates who make fun of the belief or reality that Lucas has had one or more nose jobs then made fun of Smith for getting shown up my a guy who might have had one or more nose job after Lucas made a good play against Smith in practice on Friday.

And, so, regardless of whether Lucas has ever had a nose job, he’ll be getting one.

Aside from needing the nose job, it also appears that the blow to the head is still affecting Lucas’ logic. He now says that the fight which has resulted in his injury and Smith’s suspension will actually be good for the team.

“I feel like what happened is a blessing in disguise,” Lucas said. “I think it’s something that may bring this team closer together. You all may think I’m crazy for saying that. But I think it’s bigger than Steve and I. Steve and I talked man-to-man, one-on-one and we still have more talking to do. . . . We still have some more things to talk about as far as what can we do to be able to go out there and co-exist on the same field, same team and be productive and help this team win this year. Only two men can do that, and feel like we have what it takes in order to do so.

“There are a lot of things that have been brewing between Steve and I. I can’t possibly tell you what the issues are in one conversation what has been happening [over the last] four years.”

You know what? Ken might just be on to something here. Violence brings people closer together. So since I’m the new guy here, I think I’m going to go introduce myself to my fellow SbBers by punching every single one of them in the face. I figure it can only make this site even better.