Whenever two NFL teams get together for joint practices in the dog days of August, tempers are bound to flare at some point.
Monday’s practice between the Giants and Detroit Lions was no exception.
Early into Monday’s training session, which is the first of two between the teams ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener at MetLife Stadium, the Giants defense got into quite the scrum with the Lions’ offense.
Here’s a look:
“That’s just camp. That’s just a hot day,” said Brian Burns, who was involved in the kerfuffle. “Tempers start to flare when it’s hot, you’re tired, and you’ve got people hitting you. So, this is what happens.”
Then, about 25 minutes later, another fight broke out while the Giants’ offense was on the field.
According to SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes, this scuffle broke out one play after Daniel Jones had the ball hit out of his hands (QBs are not supposed to be contacted during practices).
Jones was right in there in the middle of the action before a member of the Giants staff ushered him away.
Here’s a look:
“A situation happens like that, you try to stand up for your guys, but I thought it was a good competitive practice all day today,” said Jones. “We made some plays and did some good things. There are things we need to shore up for sure, but good intensity and competitive spirit today.”
Jones, typically very mild-mannered, even surprised some of his teammates by getting in on the fracas.
“Daniel got jiggy with it? Daniel was out there with it? I’m gonna need him to back up, let his O-iine handle that,” Burns said with a laugh. “But no, Daniel is a competitor, man. He’s a fighter, so I don’t expect nothing less from him. But I don’t need him in there, I don’t need him getting hit. Keep him healthy.”
And just for good measure, there was a third fight later in the practice when the Giants’ third-team offense was on the field:
