The fallout from the Dallas Cowboys’ chaotic joint practice with the New Orleans Saints is not over yet.
One day after multiple fights disrupted the two-hour session in Oxnard, California, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that the NFL has requested video from the practice. The league’s interest comes after roughly eight altercations broke out between Dallas and New Orleans, including punches, helmet throwing and one confrontation that featured Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner taking Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson to the ground with a wrestling-style move.
Schottenheimer made it clear immediately after practice that he was frustrated by what happened.
Now the NFL wants a closer look.
NFL Requests Cowboys-Saints Joint Practice Film
Dallas Morning News reporter Calvin Watkins shared the latest development Thursday.
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the NFL has requested the film from the joint practice with the Saints,” Watkins reported on X.
The request does not necessarily mean discipline is coming, but it gives the league an opportunity to review the incidents in detail and determine whether any players crossed the line.
That possibility is significant considering how many altercations occurred.
Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was removed from practice after officials saw him throw a punch. Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson also appeared to throw a punch, while Saints center Erik McCoy and other players were involved in heated exchanges that included helmets being ripped off and thrown.
Rechsteiner’s takedown of Thompson also drew attention because of its resemblance to a professional wrestling suplex. Rechsteiner is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner.
Brian Schottenheimer Wasn’t Happy With Cowboys’ Practice
Schottenheimer did not attempt to minimize what happened.
“Right now, I’m in charge of fight club,” he said after the session.
He also called the practice “unfortunate” and said Dallas did not get enough quality work because of the constant interruptions.
The Cowboys typically use joint practices to give starters competitive reps without exposing them to as much preseason game action. That made Tuesday’s practice particularly valuable in theory.
Instead, the fighting repeatedly stopped drills and limited the amount of productive work both teams could complete.
“There’s a discipline element to playing this football game,” Schottenheimer said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t handle that very well today.”
He also added that Dallas was not the only team responsible.
Cowboys Could Face More Fallout From Saints Fights
The biggest question now is whether the NFL’s review leads to fines or other discipline.
Joint-practice fights have become an annual storyline around the league, but the sheer number of incidents between Dallas and New Orleans makes this situation more notable than a typical training camp scuffle.
The fact that the NFL specifically requested the practice film only adds to the attention surrounding the session.
For Dallas, the timing is less than ideal.
The Cowboys are preparing for their next preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and would prefer the focus to return to football rather than potential discipline from a practice that Schottenheimer already described as disappointing.
The fighting may have ended Tuesday.
The NFL’s review suggests the consequences might not be over.
