Thursday marked yet another day of intense joint practices in the NFL, highlighted by altercations between teams. A notable incident occurred during a session between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. An altercation involved someone reportedly taking a swing at quarterback Jameis Winston. Witness accounts state that Winston responded by leveling someone, leading another participant to retaliate against him.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart reacted by jumping into the fray. He commented, “I just looked over and saw the red 19 jersey and I was like, ‘I got to go,’ Dart said. “I got to go help my boy! I don’t know what’s going on over there.”
Such events are not isolated. Earlier in the week, there was a massive brawl involving the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. This confrontation included punches and wrestling-style moves. Following the incident, the NFL imposed fines of $500,000 against both teams.
The league has emphasized sportsmanship, especially during joint practices, through its Competition Committee. This summer, all 32 teams were reminded of this focus.
Though hefty fines were levied, some argue this response isn’t sufficient. The incident highlighted the need for further measures, suggesting that players themselves should face fines for misconduct during training practices, similar to penalties in preseason and regular-season games.
To illustrate, the Cleveland Browns’ Troy Hill and New York Giants’ Sterling Shepard engaged in a fight during a 2021 joint practice. This pattern of behavior is concerning, with consecutive days of altercations involving teams holding joint practices.
In one example from August 11, the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers engaged in multiple scuffles. Later, the Cowboys and Saints had an intense confrontation where wrestling moves were noted, resulting in fines for both teams.
Coaches, like Patriots’ Mike Vrabel, voiced their disapproval of such behavior. “I don’t want anybody fighting,” Vrabel stated. “I don’t want our guys fighting in practice. I don’t want them throwing punches.” He pointed out the repercussions during games.
During a Bears and Bengals practice on Thursday, a significant fight broke out when Ray-Ray McCloud of the Bears allegedly threw a punch, causing players to react intensely and engage in the skirmish.
More altercations occurred during the practice in Miami Gardens, involving the Giants and Dolphins. Multiple players from both teams were ejected or benched for their involvement in any violence.
Though removing players or fining teams aims to diffuse tensions, it’s often ineffective, especially for veterans who may welcome such a break. Players often won’t refrain from protecting themselves or expressing emotions, even if their club faces fines.
To manage these issues effectively, imposing fines directly on players seems necessary. Players generally avoid such conduct during games due to the risk of personal fines deducted from their salaries.
The NFL’s compliance guidance specifically addresses player conduct during various game phases, recognizing fighting as a punishable offense. However, joint practices lack similar regulation.
Though recent steps by the NFL to address this problem are notable, until financial penalties affect individual players, incidents during joint practices are likely to continue.
Follow Armando Salguero on X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO. Armando Salguero is OutKick’s Senior NFL Writer.