Helicopter flyover scares Giants at practice

Updated: September 11, 2003, 9:14 PM ET

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A military helicopter skimmed over Giants Stadium on Thursday, creating excitement and concern as the team practiced for Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Players looked up as the helicopter flew the length of the stadium on the second anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"He almost took out the Verizon sign," guard Rich Seubert said of the billboard at the top of the 77,000-seat stadium.

Giants assistant special teams coach Mike Priefer, a Naval Academy graduate, called the flyover "awesome."

"I was standing on that end of the field and I heard it coming before it came over the field," said Priefer, who thought the helicopter was a CH-53 Super Stallion.

"If they were typical military guys they were just out having fun," Priefer said. "They are going to fly as close to the field as possible. I did it over Florida's field when I was at Pensacola."

George Zoffinger, head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which runs the stadium, said he was unaware of the flyover.

"That was scary," punter Jeff Feagles said. "What the heck. It was pretty cool."

Keith Hamilton, who was charged with drug possession in Morris County in May, had a different reaction. "I thought they were coming for me," he said.

Receiver Amani Toomer said he was a little startled by the helicopter.

"You definitely thought something was happening, because you know today is the anniversary," Toomer said. "On the ride over here this morning, I heard a lot about 9-11 listening to the radio. When you see that helicopter -- it was big, dark and it came, really, really low. It got everybody's attention."

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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