Jaxson Dart’s Feisty Td Celebration Comes With A Stark Warning For Qb — And Rest Of Giants

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Jaxson Dart finished his rushing touchdown with a toss … right at cornerback Greg Newsome II’s face mask.

What did head coach John Harbaugh think of that display on what was a simulated game-tying touchdown run from the Giants quarterback?

“I think it’s a 15-yard penalty for taunting,” Harbaugh said, “so we backed up the extra point.”

Ben Sauls made the PAT before the penalty was called on delay — at Harbaugh’s urging to the group of local high school officials — then Sauls came back out and made the 48-yard PAT.

The Giants encourage Dart to be feisty. But there is a line he cannot cross, and Harbaugh singling out the quarterback is a subliminal message to others not to do the same.

“I think he understands that for the game-winning extra point, we don’t want it to be a 50-yard extra point. Do you think I need to say anything [to Dart] in that case?” Harbaugh asked rhetorically. “It’s pretty clear-cut.”

It’s not clear what Newsome might have said that set off Dart, but it’s clear the defense didn’t like the quarterback scramble touchdown from the 3-yard line considering that they cannot touch him in those situations.

Russell Wilson used to do that frequently in last year’s training camp.

“Just them competing,” said tight end Isaiah Likely, who stepped between Dart and Newsome. “I mean, training camp, Day 2 of pads, getting tired, obviously in the red zone [where] points are at stake. That’s the type of dog you want in a quarterback. And obviously, Newsome, I’ve been playing [against] him for quite a while. I know he’s a dog himself, so he’s not going to back down on nobody.”

The Giants haven’t had any trash talk escalate to a fight during training camp.

“My policy on fighting is that the play clock keeps going,” Harbaugh said. “So, you can fight all you want, but you’re going to be back on the line running the next play within 40 seconds.”

S Tyler Nubin said he is playing “about 8 pounds” lighter than last year, in line with his rookie weight of around 205.

“I just wanted more for speed,” Nubin said. “I feel like I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, best shape I’ve ever been. So, I like this weight. I think I’m moving well.”

Nubin had difficulty last season chasing down ball carriers who slipped behind him if he took one wrong step on an angle.

The Giants are introducing three 30-minute pregame shows for their preseason games on NBC. Fans can also watch a Spanish-language broadcast of the Aug. 22 preseason Giants-Dolphins game on Telemundo 47/WNJU.