Forget just a skirmish or a little pushing and shoving. We’re talking absolute, full-blown chaos. **Double-digit fights** erupted during the Cowboys-Saints joint practice, turning what should have been a productive session into a brawl fest, and Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer is, understandably, absolutely furious with his team’s lack of control. This kind of undisciplined meltdown early on can send shockwaves through a locker room.
Total Chaos on the Field
Schottenheimer didn’t mince words after the session, practically throwing his hands up when he flat-out declared, “Right now, I’m in charge of fight club.” Can you even believe that? His own players, turning a crucial pre-season practice into some kind of unsanctioned MMA octagon. We literally saw Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku get tossed from the field for throwing a punch , and get this, it’s the *second time* that’s happened to him in training camp. That’s not just a warning sign, that’s a blinking red light! His teammate, cornerback Caelen Carson, also landed a punch, but apparently, the officials managed to miss that one in all the mayhem. It was a total free-for-all, man, no two ways about it.
When Practice Turns Ugly
And these weren’t just light taps either. The brawls quickly escalated beyond a few pushes and shoves. We’re talking Saints center Erik McCoy going full WWE, launching a Cowboys helmet high into the air. Seriously, a helmet! Then you had Saints tight end Moliki Matavao wrestling Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson right down to the ground in what looked more like a wrestling match than a football drill. It got so out of hand, so out of control, that Schottenheimer and Saints head coach Kellen Moore , a guy who knows the Cowboys inside and out from his playing and coaching days there , actually had a serious discussion about shutting down the entire practice early. Think about that: they almost called it quits because things were so wild. They eventually finished, but Schottenheimer’s disappointment was palpable.
Even though they pushed through to the end, Schottenheimer made it crystal clear he’s “disappointed in the work today because I didn’t think we got enough good work.” He also stated unequivocally, “Nobody wants this. We want to get the work in.” He’s absolutely right. You need these reps, these focused sessions, to get ready for the regular season grind. He’s on record saying he won’t tolerate fighting, which is exactly what you want to hear from your head coach. But man, for this kind of undisciplined chaos to break out *twice* already for Ezeiruaku, and to completely derail a crucial joint practice like this? It screams trouble. You gotta wonder if the Cowboys have the internal discipline and focus they need. This isn’t a good look for a team trying to gel and build chemistry. They need to clean this up, and fast, if they want to get any actual football work done moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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