Here is how Tuesday's joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints turned into matching $500,000 NFL fines announced Thursday, according to reporting from the Associated Press and NFL.com.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 — Oxnard turns chippy
The teams practiced together at the Cowboys' California camp site. AP described uncommonly hot, humid weather along the coast and multiple fights throughout the day. Players threw punches in several skirmishes.
Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner body-slammed Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson. Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet high into the air. McCoy and Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku traded punches before Ezeiruaku was ejected — the second time he had been thrown out of practice this camp, AP reported.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and Saints coach Kellen Moore discussed ending the session early after the post-whistle trouble kept resurfacing. Schottenheimer later called the workout chippy and said the team mishandled the discipline side of the day. "There's a discipline element to playing this football game," he said. "Unfortunately we didn't handle that very well today."
Wednesday-Thursday — video and review
AP reported that the NFL requested video of the tumultuous workout before announcing penalties. Joint practices sit outside a full broadcast truck setup, which is why the league's video request, as the AP described it, mattered to the review.
Moore, speaking Thursday before the fines were announced, said there was "non-football stuff" in the joint practice. New Orleans then held another joint session with the Los Angeles Rams in Woodland Hills without scuffles, AP reported, after Moore addressed professionalism with his players.
Thursday, Aug. 20 — NFL announces fines
The league confirmed each organization was fined $500,000. NFL.com quoted the statement citing the Competition Committee's multi-year emphasis on sportsmanship at joint practices and a pre-camp memo reminding clubs to prevent injury-risking unsportsmanlike behavior. ESPN had previously reported on a July memo holding coaches and players to high standards of professionalism during joint practices, NFL.com noted in its coverage.
