Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was upset with his team after double-digit fights broke out during a joint practice with the Saints.
“Right now, I’m in charge of fight club,” Schottenheimer said afterward, via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News.
Officials tossed Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku after he threw a punch, marking the second time that’s happened during training camp. Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson also threw a punch but officials apparently didn’t see him do it.
Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys’ helmet in the air, and Saints tight end Moliki Matavao wrestled Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson to the ground.
Schottenheimer and Saints head coach Kellen Moore, who played for and coached for the Cowboys, discussed ending the practice early after failing to get things under control. Ultimately, the scrimmage went to the end.
“Nobody wants this,” Schottenheimer said. “We want to get the work in. I thought it settled down and it was very chippy early on, but it was unfortunate.
“Our football team needs this work, and overall, I was disappointed in the work today because I didn’t think we got enough good work.”
Schottenheimer said he won’t tolerate fighting, but at the same time, he likes the fight in his team.
“We’re going to play on the edge and we’re not going to take . . . shit from anybody,” Schottenheimer said. “But at the same time, I don’t think [the Saints] were the only ones stirring up the shit. I think we might’ve been stirring it up as well. It was a sloppy practice all in all, and it’s got to be better.”
