Report: Giants, Bengals To Practice Together Prior To August Preseason Game

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's going to be one memorable week in Cincinnati for the Giants this August.

For the first time in 10 years, Big Blue will take part in joint practices with another NFL team. The Giants will practice with the Bengals on Aug. 11 and 12 prior to the team's preseason opener at Paul Brown Stadium on Aug. 14, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Head coach Tom Coughlin had steered clear of those types of practices in the aftermath of a fight-filled two-day experiment with the Jets at SUNY Albany back in 2005.

But Coughlin has decided to change things up this season, perhaps to provide a spark. The Giants have been notoriously slow starters of late, losing their season opener in each of the last four seasons, and have missed the playoffs the last three seasons, going a combined 22-26. So it probably wouldn't hurt to get the team out of its comfort zone and into bonding mode a bit earlier than usual.

Joint practices are often spirited affairs, with teams blowing off steam following weeks of drills. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is a fan of the idea, having scheduled joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2013, the Post reported.