LOS ANGELES – The NFL has imposed a fine of $500,000 each on the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints following an intense joint practice that erupted into multiple brawls.
The league’s announcement was made on Thursday, following the review of video footage from the tumultuous workout held at the Cowboys’ training camp in Oxnard, California.
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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed his intention to appeal the “pretty stiff” fine, acknowledging the NFL’s reasoning behind the significant penalty. The Cowboys are also set to discipline their own players who participated in the confrontations.
In a statement, the NFL emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, particularly at joint practices, noting that all clubs had been reminded of their responsibility to prevent unsportsmanlike behavior that could lead to injuries. “The Competition Committee has made sportsmanship — including at joint practices — a point of emphasis over the past several years,” the league stated.
During the joint practice, players from both teams engaged in several skirmishes, exacerbated by the unusually hot and humid weather in the coastal area. A notable incident involved Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner performing a body slam on Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson, reminiscent of moves seen in professional wrestling, a nod to Rechsteiner’s father, Scott Steiner.
Other confrontations included Saints center Erik McCoy throwing a Cowboys helmet during one altercation, while he and Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku exchanged punches, resulting in Ezeiruaku being ejected from practice for the second time that camp.
Jones remarked on the league’s commitment to maintaining sportsmanship, stating, “The taking of helmets off and swinging and hitting and that type of thing is not good for anybody, and it’s certainly not what we want to represent to our fans as a league or as a team.” He further noted that the size of the fine serves as a serious reminder of the consequences of unsportsmanlike behavior.
Saints coach Kellen Moore and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer contemplated ending the practice early due to the ongoing tensions. Schottenheimer described the practice as “a little chippy,” stating it was not aligned with their standards for practice.
Moore acknowledged the unfortunate presence of non-football incidents, emphasizing the need for professionalism as they prepared to face the Los Angeles Rams in their upcoming preseason game.
Following the incident, the Saints conducted another joint practice with the Rams without any disciplinary issues, wrapping up earlier than scheduled due to previous extensive work and some minor player injuries.
In conclusion, the fines imposed on the Cowboys and Saints serve as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining discipline and respect during training, underscoring the NFL’s commitment to upholding the integrity and safety of the game.
AP freelance reporter Dan Greenspan in Oxnard, California, contributed to this report.
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