Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson regrets role in massive brawl
Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson accepted responsibility for his actions in the training camp scuffle on Monday, when he pushed linebacker Cam Brown, which helped spark an all-out brawl.
“It’s a regrettable incident that can’t and won’t happen again,” Johnson said Tuesday of his involvement in the dustup, during which he pushed Brown, who had gotten into it with center Joe Feliciano. “I’ve apologized to the appropriate people, in particular Cam. I have to be better than that.”
The fight broke out during a tense practice and involved punches thrown by Brown and Feliciano. Both sidelines cleared as fans on hand chanted “Let’s go Giants!”
Head coach Brian Daboll didn’t say Tuesday whether he disciplined Johnson, but he made it clear it couldn’t happen again.
“That’s not what we’re looking for,” Daboll said. “We’re going to pride ourselves on being smart, tough, dependable. I’ve been around long enough to see certain things like that — on the third or fourth day in pads — happen. It’s addressed. We’re not going to do that.”
The players involved in the fight have yet to be made available to the media.
Rookie offensive tackle Evan Neal was sporting a new number (73, after initially being given 70) at practice on Tuesday. The number became available when veteran Matt Gono was released. Gono, who was placed on the exempt/left squad list, didn’t want to give it up.
“Kind of like when Michael Jordan wore number 45, but had to switch back to 23,” Neal joked. “It doesn’t really affect the way that you play by any means. A number can’t play for you. Just feeling more comfortable with your number.”
Neal wore No. 73 throughout high school and in college at Alabama.
“It’s just the number that I’ve always worn,” Neal said. “So it’s just grown on me.”
LB Carter Coughlin, CB Rodarius Williams, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, and probably RB Matt Breida and WR David Sills will not play Thursday in the preseason opener against the Patriots. OL Josh Ezeudu is questionable.
Practice Tuesday was light, similar to a Friday workout during the season before a game on Sunday. There were no pads and it was akin to a walk-through, as both the offense and defense took turns as the scout team.
DTs Leonard Williams and Nick Williams did not practice Tuesday, while WR Kadarius Toney was being looked at by a trainer late in practice.
