The New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys made waves with their fight-filled joint practice earlier in the week, and the league took notice.
Both teams have been fined $500,000 by the league. The two teams will face off again in the preseason finale next week.
Coverage brought to you by Trane: It's Hard To Stop A TraneTrane: It's Hard To Stop A TraneThe practice featured at least 10 separate scuffles between both ends of practice. The more significant brawls came on the side of the field featuring the Saints offense and the Cowboys defense. Cowboys DE Donovan Ezeriaku was sent off from the practice after throwing a punch. Video also showed brawls where players had helmets ripped off, and one where Saints WR Brock Rechsteiner suplexed Cowboys DB Jalen Thompson.
"The Competition Committee has made sportsmanship – including at joint practices – a point of emphasis over the past several years," said the NFL in announcing the fine. "All clubs were reminded by memo prior to training camp of their responsibility in preventing unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices that has the potential to result in injury.”
The Saints held another joint practice on Thursday with the Rams and there were no issues with fighting. Saints head coach Kellen Moore said there were some discussions, but no major emphasis on dialing down emotions.
"We acknowledged some of the things that happened on Tuesday, Moore said. "I thought our guys were focused, Rams were focused, just a really clean practice."
The memo sent out by the NFL in July noted that players and coaches would be held to "the highest standards of professionalism and conduct" during such events. Instances of fighting could be penalized with team and/or player fines, as well as loss of practices. Violations that resulted in injuries could also result in suspensions and draft pick forfeitures or adjustments. Fortunately for both sides there did not appear to be any injuries associated with any of the fights in practice. There was no indication that any further discipline would be levied beyond the assessed fines.
The Saints will finish off their California trip with a preseason matchup against the Rams on Saturday.
