The National Football League has fined the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints $500,000 each following a significant brawl that occurred during their joint practice on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The league stated that sportsmanship, including conduct during joint practices, has been a point of emphasis for its Competition Committee in recent years, a reminder that was sent to all 32 teams this summer.
The fines come after a week marked by multiple fights between teams holding joint practices. The Cowboys-Saints incident reportedly involved punches and wrestling moves.
This confrontation was one of several scuffles around the league during training camp. On Thursday, August 20, 2026, joint practices between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, as well as the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals, also saw altercations. The Dolphins-Giants practice was notably heated, with at least one player reportedly taking a swing at quarterback Jameis Winston, prompting other players, including Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, to intervene.
Earlier in the week, the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints had a skirmish on August 13, and the Jaguars and Carolina Panthers engaged in multiple skirmishes during their practice on August 19. Practices between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots also experienced confrontations, despite coaches' warnings.
However, some analysts argue that team fines do not go far enough to curb such behavior. The argument is that individual players should face direct financial penalties, similar to those incurred during preseason and regular-season games, to discourage misconduct during training camp practices. Currently, the NFL's compliance guidance specifically covers player conduct during games, not joint practices.
Critics suggest that team fines are not a sufficient deterrent for individual players, who may view getting ejected from a practice as a welcome break from an uncomfortable workout rather than a punishment. The contention is that only personal financial repercussions will lead players to regulate their emotions and refrain from engaging in fights. The NFL has not yet commented on the possibility of implementing fines for individual player misconduct during joint practices.