Multiple scuffles broke out at a joint practice between two NFC foes saw pre-season preparation turn violent.
On Monday at a joint-session with the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants, three fights broke out to bring some new energy to the proceedings.
A first altercation broke out when there appeared to be a shoving match between Giants cornerback Dane Belton and Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown after Belton swatted the ball out of St. Brown’s hands.
Adjacent to that was a shove from Giants corner Andru Phillips on Lions pass catcher Jameson Williams.
That scuffle continued for some time – with players rushing in to get in on the action before things settled down between the opposing teams.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) shoves Andru Phillips (24) in the first of three fights between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants in a joint practice held on Monday morning
Pictured: the third of three fights between the Giants and Lions at a joint practice on Monday
Minutes later, with the Giants on offense, a second fight broke out with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones at the center of things.
It’s not clear exactly what started the second altercation.
Then, when everyone thought everything was all calmed down, a third fight broke out – with Phillips at the center of things once again.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen had even seen enough and was seen in the middle of the fights trying to break them up, according to The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll.
Inter-squad practices have been known to set off fireworks in the form of fights from time to time in the preseason.
But this appears to be the first one of the preseason where altercations broke out.
The Lions and Giants don’t meet in the regular season, but they do open their preseason against each other in three days.
New York then plays at the Houston Texans before playing their stadium-mates, the New York Jets, to close out their preseason.
As for Detroit, after playing the Giants, they’ll travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs before their preseason ends with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
