The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are facing off in a joint practice this week, but it is way more than just another training camp session. This is a family affair, with brothers Mike and Matt LaFleur leading their respective teams as head coaches. Former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is even in the mix now as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, adding another layer to the drama.
LaFleur Brothers Are Ready to Rumble
Matt LaFleur, the Packers’ head coach, spilled the beans this week about the pre-practice banter with his brother, Mike, who coaches the Cardinals. Apparently, Mike is “quick to criticize everything” Matt puts on the schedule, questioning why they are doing this or that, saying “We never do this.” Matt, playing it cool, retorted with “All right, Mike, you’ve got all the answers.” It is been “healthy” and “good” though, with “give-and-take on both sides.” But things got seriously spicy when Matt joked about the intensity sometimes getting out of hand, referencing the massive $500,000 fines handed out to the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints after brawls last week. Matt fired off, “If there’s an issue, I’m going to tell the guys, ‘Hey, you come tag me in. They can tag in my brother. And we’ll throw down on the 50.’” Mike LaFleur, hearing about his brother’s comment just minutes before talking to the media, could only chuckle. His official response? First, “No comment,” then, a sly “We’ll see what happens.” You just know there is something brewing between those two.
Family Ties Make This Practice Epic
Cardinals nose tackle Roy Lopez absolutely gets why this practice is unique. He is all about the family connections, saying, “Hats off and respect to them individually as brothers, as a family, as a whole, it’s so cool to see.” Lopez related it to seeing Marvin Harrison Jr. play, whose dad is in the Hall of Fame. For Lopez, who is huge on family, seeing the LaFleur brothers go at it is special. He expects them to be “smiling at each other and talking a little smack back and forth,” calling it a “privilege to be a part of it.” Mike LaFleur also shared some nostalgia, recalling a joint practice in Green Bay when he was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. He remembered it as a “cool place” with “bikes with the kids and stuff like that,” and expects the Cardinals to do the same. He also pointed out the “ton of fans there” because, well, “it’s Green Bay. What else are you going to do?” He quickly added, “I love it there, by the way. My family will end up being there, my kids, and they just cannot wait to get to Aunt Bre’s house for all the snacks that are there.”
Anticipating the Action
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is ready for the challenge of facing Jonathan Gannon’s defense. He has played against Gannon’s schemes for a few years, so he knows “a lot of what they do.” McBride does not expect to be “surprised about” much, but he is sure Gannon will throw in “wrinkles, some different things to make it look different.” He is pumped to go against that defense, expecting “they’ll be chirping at us and we’ll be chirping.” This joint practice is definitely shaping up to be one to watch. Will the LaFleur brothers actually throw down on the 50? We cannot wait to see what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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