Skirmishes, Ejections Mark Day 2 of Packers-Patriots Practices

The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots engaged in some football between all the pushing and shoving on Thursday.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Aug 17, 2023 4:10 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 17, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Joint practices are synonymous with fights. After a calm first day between the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, several fights marred the early stages of Thursday’s practice.

The big one came during a special teams period, when Packers outside linebacker Keshawn Banks and Patriots veteran linebacker Anfernee Jennings got into a fight that led to both players being ejected by the coaching staffs.

Working on punt return, Banks admitted to taking his block too far downfield.

“It wasn’t a full covered rep, so we’re taught to work 10 yards, let them finish or do whatever they do,” Banks said afterward. “I ended up working past 10 yards, which I typically do, but I kind of blocked him hard and I think he got upset and kept pursuing me after the play was dead. Being a rookie, just letting my emotions get the best of me in that moment, it caused an altercation.”

It was more than a run-of-the-mill altercation. Jennings got a running start and leveled Banks.

“The blind side, that was what it was. I didn’t see it,” Banks said. “Prior to that, I could’ve avoided that by being more mature, being more professional about the situation. It is what it is. You learn, you grow. That’s part of being a rookie is growing pains and that’s one of them.”

Jennings was removed from the action and flagged by the officials. When Patriots coach Bill Belichick asked why Banks wasn’t penalized, as well, Packers coach Matt LaFleur walked up to Banks.

“Matt came up to me and said, ‘Did you throw a punch?’ and I’m just an honest, truthful person,” Banks said. “That’s the way I was raised and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ Sure enough, I left practice shortly after.”

Moments earlier, with Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie working in punt protection, he took a Patriots player to the ground to set off a fracas.

Keshawn Banks (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

“Just a little extracurricular is the best way to describe it, just some activities,” McDuffie said. “Tempers flared and stuff like that just happens sometimes.”

He added, “If you get the best of them [the day before], maybe they come in and the tempers get flying. It’s part of it.”

With the Packers’ offense facing the Patriots’ defense, there were four skirmishes in the first nine snaps. In the middle of the second was Packers receiver Malik Heath, who got under a defensive back’s skin for blocking him downfield.

The third and fourth came on back-to-back plays, the last of which was a big run around the right side by running back AJ Dillon. As the players walked back to the huddle, a Patriots defender came from behind and shoved guard Jon Runyan in the back. That would be the last shoving match between the Green Bay offense and New England defense.

“We came out here to get better,” star Patriots defender Matthew Judon said. “I believe Green Bay wanted to get better, and I believe the Patriots wanted to get better. We don’t put gloves on for a living. We’re no boxers, we’re no fighters. We came out here to get better and improve in our craft. If any of that would’ve happened during a game, we all would’ve been kicked out. We’d been playing with like 17 players. That stuff can’t happen. You’ve got to be a professional about it. We came here to play football and that’s what we eventually got to.”

Fights are almost inevitable in a joint practice. While there are NFL officials on hand, they have no real power. No fines are dispensed. No one will be suspended for an upcoming game.

Elgton Jenkins would know. He was ushered off the field at Cincinnati last week for his role in two fights.

"There’s no consequences for things going on," he said, "so you’ve got to have your head on a swivel."