No matter how much success he has in the NFL, or the size of his paycheck, the chip on the shoulder of Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will remain massive. Being the 17th wide receiver taken in the 2021 draft is the driver for his work ethic, and makes him an embodiment of the Lions’ culture under Dan Campbell.

Monday’s first joint practice between the Lions and the New York Giants was a highly intense, fight-laden session. The first fight of the practice had St. Brown at the center of it, after he made a reception on Giants rookie cornerback Andru Phillips. Giants safety Dane Belton knocked the ball out of St. Brown’s hands well after the play was over, for some reason. St. Brown shoved Belton, Jameson Williams shoved Phillips, and the fight was on.

Giants rookie CB Andru Phillips not smart enough to leave Amon-Ra St. Brown alone

After that intense practice, and perhaps knowing full well he’d be asked about the fight, St. Brown politely declined to talk to reporters.

Phillips, who again was beaten by St. Brown on the rep that came before the fight, apparently did not have similar judgement-in terms of talking about the fight, in any case.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News captured a clip of Phillips being asked about the big fight.

“I mean, it was a really good rep by me. So I kind of expect him to get mad. I mean, I’m a rookie. So I think I just did my job well and maybe he didn’t like it. But at the end of the day we’re just out there competing. So I expected it.”

Phillips did express regret about the Giants’ end of the many fights during Monday’s practice, which Lions’ players would surely echo even if linebacker Derrick Barnes said a little differently (h/t to Kyle Meinke of MLive).

Phillips considered a “really good rep by me” one where a catch was made against him, caveating (via Leonard) that Jared Goff would have been sacked if the play happened in a game.

St. Brown operates with an edge to him all the time, so it surprised no one (including teammates) that he was involved in the first fight on Monday.

But for Phillips to suggest St. Brown was mad due to having been covered so well by him just shows the naivete’ of a rookie who doesn’t know better than to poke this particular bear. Tuesday’s practice may bring a lesson from the “Sun God.”