Giants’ Joe Judge ribs Bill Belichick over ball security

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge ribbed New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick a bit over his ball security on Wednesday.

At the end of Tuesday’s practice, first-year New York Giants head coach Joe Judge dove into the mud as part of a slip-and-slide ball security drill much to the delight of his players.

“That was my first time seeing something like that. I was hyped up and excited to watch it. Had all the rookies go, and then we ended it with Coach Judge. That was big time. Coach Judge, he knows how to do it. He’s coaching us about ball security and he proved that what he does works because he got out there and did it himself.” linebacker Markus Golden told reporters.

“I think Coach Judge is always about efficiency, but he adds the fun aspect to it,” linebacker Blake Martinez said. “I think that was one of those types of moments where we’re working on ball security and recovering fumbles, but making it a lot of fun for everyone around and a lot of fun for the guys who are doing it. Whether it’s adding in water, adding in that type of aspect, it brings that kid feeling where you’re on a slip n’ slide. It just made it a great way to end practice.”

The drill is common in Foxborough, where Judge previously coached under future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick. Needless to say, there’s no surprise Judge carried it over.

But Judge also used it as an opportunity to poke a little fun at his good friend, claiming Belichick simply doesn’t have the technique required to successfully corral the ball in the mud.

“He doesn’t have near the ball security skills that I do,” Judge told reporters with a smile on Wednesday.

The comment was obviously tongue-in-cheek, but the reality is that Belichick has never dove into a mess of grass and water. What that means is open to interpretation, but it’s clear Judge is having fun with his time as head coach and enjoying the opportunity to rib his former mentor a bit.

That’s a far cry from the militant disciplinary Judge is often cast as, but it brings a lot of joy to his players and the media members covering this team.

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