OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys will appeal the $500,000 fine the NFL handed them Thursday over their joint practice with the New Orleans Saints. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones also said Dallas will fine players involved in the incidents.
Jones was asked whether the league should have fined players rather than teams.
“Well, that’s up to the team to fine those players,” Jones said. “And so we will fine those players.”
Asked whether Dallas would appeal, Jones answered immediately.
“Yes, yes, we will appeal,” Jones explained. “And that’s pretty harsh. I mean, pretty stiff, not harsh, but stiff. But it does make the point that it’s a serious matter.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the league’s statement at 3:03 p.m. CT. New Orleans received the same $500,000 fine.
Jerry Jones Says Dallas Cowboys Will Fine Players Involved
Jones said he had not confirmed where Donovan Ezeiruaku stood in the process. Ezeiruaku was thrown out of Tuesday’s practice for throwing a punch. It was the second time this month Dallas removed him from a practice for fighting.
“Our plan is, I haven’t confirmed where he is in the situation,” Jones said. “But the players that are involved and that have the kind of infractions that they’re fighting the club for certainly will receive fines.”
Caelen Carson also threw a punch Tuesday, which officials did not see. Jalen Thompson was taken to the ground by a Saints player. Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys player’s helmet into the air during a scrum.
Players can also be fined separately by the NFL for fighting at joint practices under the collective bargaining agreement. Any discipline from Dallas would be in addition to that.
Ezeiruaku was a second-round pick in 2025, 44th overall out of Boston College. He joined the edge rotation as a rookie and switched to No. 6 this season. Carson is a 2024 fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest.
Jerry Jones Explains Why Dallas Cowboys-Saints Practice Escalated
Jones said joint practices do not have all of the consequences that come with an actual game.
“You don’t have the discipline of penalties that are real difference makers out here,” Jones said. “And frankly, you probably don’t have the officiating consequences. So this game is physical, and it’s easy to get involved with aggressive temperaments.”
He understood why the NFL responded the way it did.
“The taking of helmets off and swinging and hitting and that type of thing is not good for anybody,” Jones continued. “And it’s certainly not what we want to represent to our fans and as a league or as a team. And so it’s understandable how they’re coming down with real severe fines.”
Jones came back to the size of the fine more than once. He said $500,000 gets everyone’s attention and stressed that the issue has to be taken seriously throughout the organization.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke before the fine was announced Thursday. At the time, he said the league had not contacted him about discipline but confirmed the NFL had requested film from the practice.
Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints Meet Again Aug. 28
Dallas and New Orleans play at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28, in the Cowboys’ preseason finale. Kickoff is 7 p.m. CT.
Thursday was the Cowboys’ last practice in Oxnard. Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and holds open practices at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.
