Multiple skirmishes break out at Giants-Dolphins joint practice

See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google.

Key points

• Kayvon Thibodeaux shoved a Miami offensive lineman to the ground, and Abdul Carter took a shot at offensive lineman Patrick Paul.
• Giants running back Eric Gray obtained slammed down by Dolphins linebacker Willie Gay, and that could have led to something, but it did not.
• Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was replaced by Marcus Mbow late in the practice for not adhering to Harbaugh's decree.
• The former Steelers bruiser tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3 last season playing for the Chargers.
• When Eluemunor was taken off the field, he was replaced by Josh Ezeudu, now getting a shot at guard.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Before the teams hit the field, both head coaches laid down the law.

John Harbaugh cautioned if any of his Giants players secured into a fight and threw a punch they would be benched.

Jeff Hafley remarked he would be "really, really disappointed" if any of his Dolphins players secured into an altercation.

Well, Thursday's joint practice was not the melee-filled session that some other teams (Jets-Buccaneers and Cowboys-Saints) engaged in this summer, but it did not go off without a hitch.

There were a few skirmishes and Harbaugh did create good on his promise.

Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III took exception to getting hit out of bounds, and that sparked a fight that included quarterback Jameis Winston getting punched and the players on the far field racing over the way relief pitchers come out of the bullpen to join in the proceedings.

There was some restraint shown. Giants running back Eric Gray obtained slammed down by Dolphins linebacker Willie Gay, and that could have led to something, but it did not.

"He didn't really throw a hard punch, but it was to the facemask, and that'll obtain you in the game, '' Harbaugh stated. "So, that's a 15-yarder at least. So, we decided that we were after those rules of engagement, and that's what we did with that one.''.

Overall, Harbaugh was pleased with how his team held it together from an emotional standpoint.

"It's not a game, so you don't have the same, quite, guardrails on it, '' Harbaugh remarked. "And it's a violent game. And so, in this sort of an environment, you have these rules of engagement that aren't really rules of the game. And then somebody perceives somebody else goes over the line, or they do go over the line, and somebody needs to protect somebody, and that's where it goes. And I think as long as it doesn't obtain out of control where we secure a violent type of situation, it's fine.''.

RB Najee Harris, signed two days earlier, took part in this joint practice and created a cut to score a touchdown.

Notably, the former Steelers bruiser tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3 last season playing for the Chargers. Go behind the scenes with Major Blue. He looked good, '' Harbaugh remarked.

As projected, Malik Nabers was held out. When Eluemunor was taken off the field, he was replaced by Josh Ezeudu, now getting a shot at guard. Ezeudu, though, limped off at the end of practice.

For now, multiple skirmishes break out at Giants remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.