Cowboys and Saints Fined $500,000 Each After Practice Brawl

The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have each been fined $500,000 by the NFL following several fights during their joint practice on Tuesday.

The league said its Competition Committee has emphasized sportsmanship over the years, including proper conduct during joint practices. Teams were reminded before training camp that they are responsible for preventing unsportsmanlike behavior that could lead to injuries.

Fights erupt during joint practice

The altercations began after the teams separated to work on their offensive and defensive units against each other. Players exchanged punches on both practice fields, with the session having to be stopped several times.

At one point, offensive players from the Saints and defensive players from the Cowboys rushed across the field to join one of the fights.

There were also particularly heated incidents. One player threw a helmet, while another altercation ended with a player being violently taken to the ground.

The situation became serious enough that Brian Schottenheimer, head coach of the Cowboys, and Kellen Moore, head coach of the Saints, discussed whether the practice should be ended early. However, both teams ultimately decided to complete the scheduled session.

NFL reviews the footage

After the practice, Schottenheimer revealed that the NFL had requested video recordings of the session to review the incidents and determine whether disciplinary action was necessary.

The league subsequently announced the $500,000 fines for each organization. The teams can appeal the penalties, although it remains unclear whether either club intends to do so.

Individual players involved in the fights could also face discipline, with any player-specific fines potentially being charged to their respective teams.

Kellen Moore wants to move on

Kellen Moore acknowledged that the joint practice included too many incidents unrelated to football, but pointed to cleaner sessions against other opponents.

“Unfortunately, there were a lot of things unrelated to football in that joint practice,” Moore said.

The Saints coach noted that his team had a clean practice against the Los Angeles Rams and had also enjoyed a clean session with Jacksonville the previous week.

Despite the controversy, both teams will now look to put the incident behind them as they continue preparations for the upcoming NFL season.

🎲 Random Fact

NFL joint practices are designed to give teams more competitive preparation before regular-season games. However, because players from different teams share the field and compete at full intensity, these sessions can also become the scene of heated physical confrontations.