The good news was Myles Garrett was back in uniform. The bad news was he didn't participate in anything with the Giants and he won't play Sunday. (Cleveland Browns)
Fired-up Giants get revenge and win Day 2 of workouts with Browns
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from second joint practice between the Browns and Giants, and interviews …
Baker Mayfield predicted it.
In remarks prior to the second day of practice between the Browns and Giants, the quarterback said, “We kind of got after them a little bit, so we are going to expect them to come out a little bit pissed off. That is how it should be. We have to challenge each other. That is why we do these joint practices – to get better.”
The quarterback was on point. The Giants came out with more energy and more intent, and they made more noise on the field and on the sideline in support of teammates. They were particularly more physical on defense.
Overall, the Giants won the day, even though their injury-riddled starting offense did not do much other than slot receiver Sterling Shepard, who frustrated nickel back Troy Hill enough that the two engaged in fisticuffs 20 minutes after practice. More on that later.
Mayfield and the Browns’ offense had their good moments, but they were few. Mayfield’s job was made tougher by the fact he played much of the day behind third-team center Blake Hance. Starter JC Tretter got the day off and backup Nick Harris left early with a knee injury.
Hance, of course, did admirable work at guard in the playoffs last year coming off the street as a life preserver. But he had no idea he’d spend the day at center. As a result, ace Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams should have been fitted for a bib, for he was salivating at the sight of his opponent and making life miserable for Mayfield on occasion.
Having the top two centers out had a domino effect on the backup teams, of course, and Case Keenum suffered an interception on a deflection and D’Ernest Johnson had one of the team’s two fumbles.
Nonetheless, coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I thought it was really, really good work in both days, situationally. Pleased with that.”
Stefanski said the majority of the starters will not play Sunday in the game against the Giants. The lineup plan will be similar to the one used in the preseason opener in Jacksonville.
Meet me after practice
The steam bath conditions over a long practice on the second day of practice took its toll on both sides. There was a lot of jawing that nearly escalated into physical confrontations. Both coaches stepped in front of players on at least two occasions to calm things down, and then each preached to his team to cool off late in the practice.
Apparently, Shepard and Hill agreed to settle their differences after practice.
About 20 minutes after practice, with players from both sides dispersing to hit the cold tubs, Shepard and Hill threw punches at each other. It was broken up before any apparently landed.
It happened a few moments before Stefanski’s post-practice news conference, and the coach said he was unaware of what happened.
“That is news to me. Thank you for breaking that to me. I will have to get an update on that one,” he said.
On the general chippiness of the second day of joint workouts, Stefanski said, “I thought the guys took care of each other. Again, it is an emotional game and 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.”
Brownie bits
Stefanski had no updates on the severity of injuries to Harris (knee); cornerback Greedy Williams, who left in warmups with a migraine; and defensive end Porter Gustin (knee) …
Ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, and receiver Odell Beckham Jr., were in uniform but did not work in anything involving the Giants. Beckham only ran routes and took passes from Mayfield on air during a special teams period …
Stefanski confirmed that linebacker Jacob Phillips will have surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon, but the coach would not say if Phillips was done for the year …
With Sione Takitaki also out with a hamstring injury, the Browns brought back two linebackers familiar with the team – Montrel Meander, who was released on Aug. 16, and Willie Harvey, who was in camp in 2019 and 2020 …
With the shortage at linebacker, the first three on the field with the No. 1 defense were Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Elijah Lee. The next grouping was Lee, Malcolm Smith and Mack Wilson …
The kicking competition remained tight. Incumbent Cody Parkey was 5 for 5, including a long of 51 yards. Challenge Chase McLaughlin was 4 for 5, missing wide right from 51 …
The Browns’ two-minute drive at the end of the gruelling day ended in a Mayfield scramble out of bounds, a virtual sack by Leonard Williams and an incompletion for Donovan Peoples-Jones broken up by cornerback James Bradberry …
The Giants’ two-minute drive fizzled on a sack after five plays and one false start.
