GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) 鈥� Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur had his tongue firmly planted in cheek as he discussed how he would make sure his players avoid fights in their joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 an issue, I鈥檓 going to tell the guys, 鈥楬ey, you come tag me in. They can tag in my brother. And we鈥檒l throw down on the 50,鈥欌�� LaFleur joked on Monday.
Wednesday鈥檚 joint practice at Green Bay will mark the first time the LaFleur brothers have coached against each other since as the Cardinals鈥� coach. They鈥檒l also meet Friday in a preseason game at Lambeau Field.
Matt LaFleur was asked about his parents鈥� potential divided loyalties this week.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l probably look like a Christmas tree 鈥� green and red,鈥� he said.
The LaFleurs have been on opposing sidelines plenty of times, including when the New York Jets had with the Packers at Green Bay in 2021. Mike LaFleur was an offensive coordinator with the Jets from 2021-22 and Los Angeles Rams from 2023-25.
Now, they’re both head coaches.
Mike LaFleur said the desire to have a joint practice in Green Bay wasn鈥檛 necessarily because of the family ties. He just wanted cooler weather than the Cardinals get in Arizona.
鈥淚f we could have gone to Seattle to go against them, that would be great,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ell, they鈥檙e in our division, so we鈥檙e not going to Seattle. There鈥檚 no team in Canada yet. And you鈥檇 rather not go all the way out to Buffalo, just from a travel standpoint. So you think about that next closest team to get you out of the heat, it really is Green Bay.鈥�
The 39-year-old Mike LaFleur said he also spoke with the Minnesota Vikings shortly after Arizona hired him, but they already had scheduled their joint practices.
He appreciates the opportunity to work out in a town with Green Bay鈥檚 football tradition. The Cardinals plan to from their locker room to the practice field while accompanied by children, just as the Packers do each day during training camp.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a ton of fans there,鈥� Mike LaFleur said. 鈥淚 mean, it鈥檚 Green Bay. What else are you going to do?鈥�
Both coaches said there are advantages to facing each other because of the trust that exists between them.
Matt LaFleur, who is 46, noted that the Packers conducted joint practices with Houston in 2019 and were careful about what they showed because the Texans鈥� staff included John Pagano, the brother of then-Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.
鈥淏ut I think when it comes to this situation, I don鈥檛 have any hesitation or reservations,鈥� the Packers coach said.
Those family ties also should assure that each staff delivers similar warnings to their teams this week as comes under scrutiny.
The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints were each by the NFL last week after their joint practice featured a .
鈥淵ou do want to send the same message to both teams,鈥� Mike LaFleur said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 call it what it is. These joint practices, flip a coin on what could happen sometimes. Obviously we know the ramifications now, what the league can do as well. I do think that will change some people鈥檚 opinions on what the code of conduct should be.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good. We鈥檙e on the same page with how we鈥檙e going to conduct this thing.鈥�
And what did Mike LaFleur think about his older brother鈥檚 challenge to square off at midfield if things get out of hand?
鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens,鈥� the Cardinals coach quipped.
Injury notes
Matt LaFleur said DT Warren Brinson will 鈥渕iss a little bit of time鈥� after tweaking his calf in pregame warmups Friday. The injury prevented Brinson from playing at Denver. 鈥� Packers CB Brandon Cisse practiced Monday after a knee issue forced the to leave the
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AP Sports Writer David Brandt contributed to this report.
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