The NFL has fined the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints $500,000 each following a significant brawl during their joint training camp practice on August 18, 2026. This disciplinary action comes as the league grapples with a recent surge in altercations during these team-up sessions.
The fined practice involved punches and "WWE moves," as described in reports, leading to multiple players being removed. The league noted that sportsmanship, including conduct during joint practices, has been an emphasis for its Competition Committee in recent years.
This incident with the Cowboys and Saints was the latest in a series of fights during NFL joint practices throughout August 2026. On August 20, the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants engaged in multiple scuffles, with one instance escalating to involve Dolphins quarterback Jameis Winston and Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. The previous day, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers also had multiple skirmishes during their practice.
Earlier in the month, on August 11, the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers experienced several fights. Another scuffle occurred between the Jaguars and Saints on August 13. Even practices involving teams with explicit warnings from coaches, such as the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, saw confrontations.
Despite the hefty fines levied against the clubs, some observers argue that the financial penalties against teams are insufficient to curb individual player misconduct. The argument is that fines directed at the players themselves, deducted from their paychecks, are a more effective deterrent, similar to penalties issued during preseason and regular-season games. Players are typically fined for fighting in official games, a consequence that is absent during joint practices.
The league's compliance guidance specifically covers player conduct during games, but not explicitly during joint practices. This lack of direct player accountability is seen by some as the reason why such altercations are likely to persist until players face personal financial repercussions for their actions during these preparatory sessions.