Browns, Giants hope for calm
Stefanski tries to avoid joint practices turning testy
With the New York Giants visiting for a few days, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is counting on his players being on their best behavior. “They are our guests,” he said. It remains to be seen how they’ll be welcomed.
Before they play an exhibition at Firstenergy Stadium on Sunday, the Browns and Giants will practice together for two straight days at Cleveland’s suburban training facility.
And if past joint practices between NFL teams is any indication, there could be more going on than blocking and tackling.
“There are times when they can get a little testy and get a little physical,” said Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
Walker would know.
Two years ago, when he was with Indianapolis, the Colts hosted the Browns for two practices in Westfield, Ind., that grew more intense over two days and resulted in numerous brawls between players — some of them ugly.
Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland’s coach at the time and now a senior offensive assistant with the Giants, wanted to set a tone for the 2019 season and the Browns came out swinging.
Walker and the Colts swung back. “Yeah, we didn’t get pushed around,” said Walker, who signed as a free agent with Cleveland in March. “We’re not going to let anybody do that but, you know obviously on the Browns, I come here with the same mentality.”
Things got so heated between the Colts and Browns that players on one field spilled over onto the other to exchange blows.
Stefanski said he’s already spoken to some of his players about keeping things cool during the two practices with the Giants, who earlier this summer fought amongst themselves in training camp with quarterback Daniel Jones winding up at the bottom of the pile in one scrum.
More Giants: On just his second day back at practice, safety Grant Delpit sustained a hamstring injury. Delpit and S Ronnie Harrison Jr. (hamstring) both returned to practice Tuesday. … DE Jadeveon Clowney was not at practice. He had been working on the side with an unspecified injury.
Jets: Guard Alex Lewis is retiring from playing football, according to a person with direct knowledge of the decision. The 29-year-old Lewis last practiced on Aug. 5, when he came off the field with what coach Robert Saleh said was a head injury. The offensive lineman was placed on the exempt/left squad list the following day.
Watson lawsuit: An attorney for 22 women who have filed lawsuits accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment said Wednesday that he and some of his clients have spoken to the FBI about the case. Tony Buzbee
told The Associated Press that the FBI “reached out to me, and I responded.” The FBI’S involvement was first reported Tuesday by League of Justice, a website that reports on sports and the law. The revelation by Buzbee of the FBI’S involvement prompted Watson’s lead attorney to hold a news conference on Wednesday to say that the FBI had spoken with the quarterback earlier this year about allegations of extortion by one of his accusers. In their lawsuits, the 22 women accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will during massage appointments. Watson and his lawyers have denied the accusations. His lawyers have said “some sexual activity” happened during some of the appointments but that he never coerced anyone. Houston police are investigating some of the accusations, but no charges have been filed.