August 7, 2005 -- ALBANY — There was Jeremy Shockey, taking a swing at virtually anyone at arm's length wearing Jets green. There was Tom Coughlin, trash-talking with Donnie Henderson, the Jets' emotive defensive coordinator. There was Amani Toomer, all but calling the Jets a bunch of cheap-shot artists.
From the very first play of yesterday's combined practice sessions at the University at Albany, the Giants and Jets went at each other like neighborhood gangs fighting over the same turf. A morning workout under bright blue skies — with thousands of fans rimming the many fields in use — turned into a battle royal that produced a rather remarkable reaction: Coughlin complaining about the Jets playing too rough.
A fairly violent brawl — with Shockey as a protagonist — kicked off the proceedings and Coughlin fanned the flames by getting into a heated on-field exchange with Henderson.
After seeing repeated body blows to his receivers, a frustrated Coughlin beseeched Henderson to lighten things up. "That's how we practice . . . we put our hats on people," Henderson shot back, prompting a look of disgust from Coughlin.
"We don't practice like that," Coughlin countered afterward. "It's smart to realize there are only so many guys and we are operating under the salary cap. We want them to go at full speed. We just don't need hits that aren't necessary."
Stay tuned for further fireworks, as these teams lock horns Aug. 26 in their annual preseason game.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/giants/26707.htm
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