The joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints turned into a chaotic, WWE style afternoon Tuesday as multiple fights broke out between the two teams, forcing coaches to consider whether the session should continue.
Punches were thrown, helmets were tossed, and players from both sides repeatedly became involved in heated exchanges. The wildest moment came when Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner, grabbed a Cowboys player and body-slammed him to the turf.
The incident began after Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson punched Rechsteiner. Rechsteiner was then pulled around by his facemask as teammates from both sides rushed into the altercation.
The intensity of the session became significant enough that Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and Saints coach Kellen Moore discussed whether they should continue practicing.
Saints linebacker Pete Werner said the team expected the session to be physical coming in. “We knew it was going to be a little bit chippy,” Werner said. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough also acknowledged the intensity surrounding the practice, saying the players “felt the juice.”
At least two major fights involving the Saints’ offense and Cowboys’ defense broke out, with large groups of players pushing and shoving along the sideline.
Saints center Erik McCoy tossed his helmet during one altercation. In another incident, McCoy lost his helmet before exchanging punches with Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Ezeiruaku was subsequently thrown out of practice for the second time this offseason. He previously punched a player during training camp and was sent to the locker room. Schottenheimer spoke with him following that incident and said another conversation will take place after Tuesday’s confrontation.
There was also pushing, shoving and back-and-forth activity on the other field, where the Saints’ defense worked against the Cowboys’ offense.
Despite the chaos, Moore said the situation eventually settled down. The Saints’ offense and Cowboys’ defense were able to complete an 11-on-11 period and a red-zone session without any major issues.
After practice, Schottenheimer held a longer-than-usual meeting with his players on the field. The Cowboys coach declined to reveal what he told the team.
The heated session was a stark contrast to the teams’ other joint practices this summer. Neither club had experienced a significant fighting problem during its previous joint sessions. Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, players can now be fined for fighting during joint practices.
The Cowboys previously practiced with the Los Angeles Rams with only a couple of brief shoving incidents, while the Saints hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars last week without any altercations.
The Saints aren’t done with joint practices just yet. New Orleans will travel to Los Angeles to practice with the Rams on Thursday.
Dallas and New Orleans will have another chance to settle things on the football field when they meet in the preseason finale on Aug. 28.
Tuesday’s practice may have provided plenty of fireworks, but both coaching staffs will be hoping the next meeting between the two teams produces more football and fewer fights.
