BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It was hot and humid Friday afternoon, perfect weather for tempers to flare, and boy did they.
Friday’s joint practice between the Giants and Browns was full of heated trash talk for most of the afternoon with New York responding with physicality and intensity a day after Cleveland took it to them.
After practice concluded, Browns cornerback Troy Hill and Giants receiver Sterling Shepard, who were among a group of players mingling in the middle of the fields, got into an altercation.
Colorful language was exchanged between the players and wild haymakers thrown.
It did not appear as if any punches landed as reporters raced to shoot video and pictures of the fight.
Shepard, who took off his shirt as he was pulled away by teammates at the end of the scuffle, spoke with New York reporters after the altercation, which wasn’t addressed because they were unaware it occurred.
Stefanski found out about the incident when he was asked by reporters.
“That is news to me,” Stefanski said. “Thank you for breaking that to me. I do not know.
“I’ll review the tape.”
The Giants were more physical and won many of the individual 1-on-1 drills.
One team 11-on-11 inside the red zone period saw New York torch the Browns defense for three touchdowns and two defensive pass interference penalties in eight plays drawing more chirping from their sideline, including from Giants safety Jabrill Peppers.
The tension was building in the August afternoon heat and got close to boiling over late in practice so Joe Judge and Stefanski gathered their respective teams on separate fields to calm things down.
“There was only a little bit left in practice and just wanted to make sure we finished it strong and finished it smart. Joe did the same thing with his team,” Stefanski said. “The guys get it. It was hotter today. Obviously, down in the red zone, there is condensed space, so the intensity was raised. That is OK. It is football. It is a physical game, and it is an emotional game, but I was pleased with how the guys kept that in check.”
Moments earlier Browns defensive end Joe Jackson got a talking to from Stefanski. Peppers, who had been jawing at Baker Mayfield and his former team throughout the two practices, got into it with Browns defensive end Malik Jackson, who had to be held back prompting the conferences.
“I understand that there is going to be jawing back and forth, but I felt we got the work in we planned to get in,” Stefanski said.
Same plan – Stefanski will stick to a similar plan as the Jacksonville game when it comes to playing time Sunday.
Mayfield and most of the starters will not play in the game and it’s appearing less and less likely they’ll play at all in the preseason, although Stefanski would not say definitively.
“We will see next week,” Stefanski said.
Suit up – Browns defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney along with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. dressed for practice Friday and went through individual and position drills but all three were held out of team 11-on-11 work.
Early departures – Three players left practice early Friday.
Greedy Williams walked into the Casey Coleman Field House at the outset of individual and position drills due to a migraine the team said.
Center Nick Harris and defensive end Porter Gustin both suffered knee injuries.
Harris’ appeared to be significant enough that Mayfield came over to offer him words of encouragement before he left the practice field.
Notable quotable – “Saquon’s like my little brother. I treat him like my son, pat him on the head and tell him good job. No, he’s a great guy. We spent time training together before the draft and just stayed in contact. A good guy who is extremely competitive, so we’re always talking trash back and forth to each other. We made that rookie of the year bet, and he has that necklace, so he’s got the notch over me right now.” Browns QB Baker Mayfield on his friend and Giants running back Saquan Barkley.
Roster moves – The Browns signed two familiar names at linebacker Friday – Montrel Meander, recently waived by the club, and Willie Harvey Jr., signed by the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
To make room on the 85-man roster, the team waived running back Corey Taylor and receiver JoJo Ward.
Injury report – WR Ja’Marcus Bradley (neck), S Grant Delpit (hamstring), G Michael Dunn (back), LB Tony Fields II (foot), CB A.J. Green (neck), LB Jacob Phillips (elbow), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring), S Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), CB M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring) and CB Denzel Ward (soreness) did not practice due to injury.
Up next – Preseason Game No. 2 vs. NY Giants Sunday at 1:05 at FirstEnergy Stadium.