Story perspectives

Saints Fined $500,000 After Cowboys Practice Fights

8/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

The NFL fined the New Orleans Saints $500,000 for fights during their August 18 practice with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys also received a $500,000 fine for the same Oxnard, California practice.
Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet and rookie Brock Rechsteiner body-slammed safety Jalen Thompson.
Coaches Kellen Moore and Brian Schottenheimer considered ending the session early but completed it.
The teams will meet again in a preseason game on August 28, ten days later.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL punished the New England Patriots $250,000 and stripped their 2008 first-round draft pick for the 2007 Spygate videotaping scandal, Commissioner Roger Goodell signaled that rule violations would carry heavy costs. That precedent underpins today’s $500,000 fines on the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys for an August 18 practice brawl, reinforcing stricter league discipline.

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Story summary

The NFL fined the New Orleans Saints $500,000 for fights during their August 18 practice with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys also received a $500,000 fine for the same Oxnard, California practice.
Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet and rookie Brock Rechsteiner body-slammed safety Jalen Thompson.
Coaches Kellen Moore and Brian Schottenheimer considered ending the session early but completed it.
The teams will meet again in a preseason game on August 28, ten days later.

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