Multiple fights break out at joint practice with Lions and Giants
Monday’s joint practice between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants got a bit heated on multiple occasions.
There were at least a couple of fights and bench-clearing scuffles with punches being thrown during Monday’s practice. It’s unclear exactly how many fights took place, as there were several occasions where players had to be separated, but Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and general manager Joe Schoen were in the middle of at least one fight, according to multiple reports.
The first skirmish reportedly began when Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown spun and aggressively tossed Giants cornerback Dru Phillips off him after making a reception. Giants safety Dane Belton went over to St. Brown and knocked the football out of the receiver’s hand.
That’s when the pushing and shoving began, with St. Brown hitting Belton. Well over a dozen players on each side converged right after.
“I was trying to finish a play, and I feel like he wasn’t down, so I’m trying to get the ball out,” Belton told reporters of his role in the fight following Monday’s practice. “Everyone talks about turnovers, you’ve got to do things like that. I was just trying to get the ball out. People who know me, I’m not a big fighter after the play. I hate getting penalties because that leads to losing and I love winning. I’m not going to fight anybody, but when that play is going, I’m going to go get that ball.”