NFL Fines Cowboys, Saints $500,000 Each Over Practice Brawls

LOS ANGELES —

The NFL has fined the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints $500,000 each after a joint practice this week turned into a series of fights, ESPN reported. The two teams split into groups to run offense against defense on separate fields Tuesday when the scuffles broke out.

Punches, A Helmet Toss And A Body Slam

Players threw punches on both fields, according to ESPN, and coaches had to stop play repeatedly as players from both sidelines rushed in to join the fighting. In one incident, a player was body-slammed to the ground. CBS Sports reported that Saints rookie receiver Brock Rechsteiner picked up Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson and slammed him down after Thompson tried to break up a separate fight between Rechsteiner and Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson. In another skirmish, Saints center Erik McCoy came away holding a Cowboys player's helmet and threw it, CBS Sports reported.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and Saints coach Kellen Moore talked about ending the practice early but decided to finish it on schedule, according to ESPN. Cowboys edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku was thrown out of practice for throwing a punch, the second time he has been ejected from a training camp session this summer for that reason, ESPN reported.

A league spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that "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." CBS Sports reported the NFL sent that memo to every team on July 14, telling coaches and players they are "held to the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship" and warning that fighting would bring fines to both players and clubs.

Jones Says Cowboys Will Appeal

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones called the fine "stiff" but said the team plans to appeal it, according to ESPN. He said the penalty was meant to send a message all the way down from the league office. "It really emphasizes the league's intent to control it from the very top, which when they start dealing out those kinds of fines, they get your attention," Jones said.

Jones said the Cowboys would also fine individual players involved in the fighting, which is allowed under the league's labor agreement. "You have to have consequences and that needs to register," he said.

Moore, the Saints coach, contrasted Tuesday's session with cleaner joint practices the team had against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars. "We had some really good work overall," he said, according to ESPN.

The Cowboys and Saints are scheduled to meet again in their preseason finales on August 28.