The NFL has made its stance crystal clear: brawling at joint practices comes with a hefty price tag. The league announced on Thursday that both the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have been fined $500,000 each for the chaotic scenes that unfolded during their combined workout earlier this week.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the fines were levied for "actions that took place at the joint practice between the teams earlier this week." The league emphasized that sportsmanship has been a point of emphasis for the Competition Committee in recent years, and all clubs were reminded before training camp about their responsibility to prevent unsportsmanlike behavior that could lead to injury.
The punishment comes after video and reports surfaced showing multiple altercations between the two squads. ESPN reported at least seven fights broke out during the session, with the most jaw-dropping moment being Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner delivering a suplex on Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson. That incident alone sparked widespread debate and drew comparisons to pro wrestling.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer had hinted that discipline was coming, revealing that the league requested all practice footage to review the incidents. The teams were put on notice, and now they've been made an example of for the rest of the league.
Fans, as always, had plenty to say about the decision. Some questioned why the teams—rather than individual players—were fined, with one user asking, "So is the purpose of fining the teams to make them hold their players more accountable instead of just disciplining the players involved directly?" Others mocked the amount, noting that $500,000 is pocket change for billion-dollar franchises, while a third lamented that society has become "sooooooo soft."
This isn't the first time joint practices have turned ugly this summer. Just days earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots had their own skirmish after a hard sack on Jalen Hurts, leading to a brawl that drew headlines. And the Eagles' own wide receiver duo, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, were seen burying the hatchet after their own heated moment, showing that tensions can flare even among teammates.
The Cowboys and Saints now face the financial consequences of their actions, but the bigger question is whether this will actually deter future fights. The NFL has made it clear that it will not tolerate such behavior, and the next team to cross the line could face even stiffer penalties. For now, both franchises are left to count the cost of a practice that spiraled out of control.
