Ugly fight breaks out at New York Giants OTA as Kayvon Thibodeaux throws a punch at teammate
Giants OTA fight turns wild: Kayvon Thibodeaux throws punch, practice shut down
So much for a chill offseason workout. What was supposed to be a routine, non-contact OTA session for the New York Giants turned wildly chaotic on Thursday and it all started with a helmet, a punch, and some very overheated tempers.
No pads, no tackling, but apparently, no chill either. By the time coaches shut down the practice early, several players had gotten involved, helmets were tossed like dodgeballs, and it was far from just 'competitive fire.'
Tensions boiled over when
Kayvon Thibodeaux
yanked off a helmet and threw a punch
The mayhem kicked off when Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux ripped the helmet off offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and then straight-up threw a punch at him. That's not exactly what OTAs are for.
Thibodeaux's move set off a chain reaction. Offensive tackle James Hudson came charging in like a linebacker, tackling Thibodeaux to the ground. And then, boom, Brian Burns, the team's new high-profile pass rusher, jumped in to defend Thibodeaux and went after Hudson.
Before you knew it, the fight had spilled to the middle of the field, players were going at it from all sides, and the energy was anything but 'voluntary camp' vibes.
With the brawl spreading across the 50-yard line and more teammates piling in, head coach Brian Daboll had no choice but to end the practice early. That almost never happens, especially in no-pad, no-contact drills. But this one clearly crossed a line.
Remember, these aren't even mandatory sessions. This was supposed to be a light, chemistry-building week, not a full-contact brawl with punches thrown.
Players tried to downplay it afterward but the fight was anything but minor
After practice, Brian Burns chalked the fight up to the heat (both literally and emotionally), saying:
'The heat got to us.
Tensions raised a little high. But it ain't that deep. We squashed it.'
Russell Wilson also played it cool, saying this type of stuff happens and won't carry over. Still, no one denied how intense things got in the moment.
It's worth noting: This is the second time during these OTAs that tempers have flared. There was already a shoving match between Burns and Hudson earlier in the day before Thibodeaux escalated things on the next play.
The Giants defense has major energy this year with guys like Thibodeaux, Burns, and even rookie Abdul Carter all trying to stand out. But if this is what they're doing in June, the coaching staff will need to keep that fire under control before it burns the house down.
The Giants have more OTA sessions scheduled for June 9–10 and 12–13. Whether they're calmer or even more chaotic... we'll have to wait and see.
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