The Giants were ready to rumble.
Thursday’s OTA practice ended with a full-scale fight that included punches thrown — a rare sight on an NFL field at this time of year, when pads and drills with live contact are prohibited.
“The heat got to us,” edge rusher Brian Burns said after practicing in 90-degree temperatures with 50 percent humidity. “It’s a violent sport we play. Guys are trying to get better. Tensions raised a little high, heat was getting a little H๏τter, so guys are a little more agitated.
“But it isn’t that deep. We squashed it.”
Tempers first flared between Burns and left tackle James Hudson, — filling in as a starter while Andrew Thomas (foot) is sidelined.
They escalated from pushing and shoving to removing helmets and squaring up to fight before peacemaking teammates — rookie Abdul Carter in particular — separated them and coaches sent the duo to the sideline.
But, one play later, Kayvon Thibodeaux and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor were tangled up after Eluemunor came across the formation.
Thibodeaux swung at Eluemunor and the sidelines emptied, with Hudson and Burns among the first to add to the skirmish and pick up where they left off.
Bodies wound up on the ground.
Head coach Brian Daboll huddled the team to deliver a message and cut practice short.
“You definitely need that edge, you need that dog inside of you,” Burns said. “But you just can’t let it get in the way of work. The only thing I’m mad about is that we had to go ahead and call it. We got most of our work done today, but I just want to stay away from that.”
Burns’ accountability to speak to the media after a post-practice cooling-down period was a step some NFL players (and teams) wouldn’t have taken during a voluntary point on the calendar.
But Burns, who played against Hudson in a 2022 Panthers-Browns game, also planned to address the fight with teammates.
“I’m going to let it be known to the team that’s not what we’re doing here,” Burns said. “We have to keep our mindset on the main thing, which is football. All that horseplay is cool or whatever — nice edge and everything like that — but we do have to get to the details and get our work done.”
Thursday’s OTA was the sixth, but only the second attended by media.
“This happens all the time,” Burns said. “We fight over food, fight over ping-pong, pool, whatever it is. Nothing but a little brotherhood.”
On-field fights usually are reserved for training camp and the monotony of an everyday practice schedule, when pads are banging in the trenches.
“I think it’s a compeтιтive part of practice, and we’re all trying to be the best version of us,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “A lot of times you have a long practice, the way we did and the way we were working, things happen. Every great team I’ve been on, there’s been a couple of those. Our guys are so connected, that sometimes happens. Nothing to worry about.”
