NFL Joint Practice Skirmishes Raise Concerns

Thursday witnessed another day of joint practices across the NFL marked by fights, including a notable altercation between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. A confrontation saw someone swinging at quarterback Jameis Winston. Once involved, Winston reportedly leveled someone, which prompted a retaliatory swipe at him. This commotion led Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart to intervene.

I just looked over and saw the red 19 jersey (which is Winston) 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.

The problems extended beyond this incident. A massive brawl erupted between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys during a joint practice session. This tussle involved punches and wrestling, culminating in $500,000 fines imposed on both teams by the NFL. The league had emphasized sportsmanship and proper conduct during joint practices in recent years. They reminded teams of this focus over the summer. The substantial fines aim to address the violence, but more is needed.

The NFL and NFL Players Association must realize that fining individual players for misconduct during training camp practices, just like during games, could deter violence. Incidents have been frequent. For instance, a skirmish occurred between the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants in 2021 during a practice in Berea, Ohio.

On Thursday, joint practices between other teams also saw skirmishes. Jets and Buccaneers had scuffles on Aug. 11. The Jaguars and Saints had a heated interaction on Aug. 13. A more serious conflict on Aug. 18 involved Cowboys and Saints, featuring wrestling moves and ending with team fines. A practice between the Jaguars and Panthers on Wednesday included several disputes. Similarly, the Eagles and Patriots engaged despite coaches warning players against it.

I don’t want anybody fighting, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel insisted. I don’t want our guys fighting in practice. I don’t want them throwing punches. They get thrown out of the game when those things happen, he added.

In a Bears vs. Bengals joint practice on Thursday, multiple fights broke out. A significant one involved Bears receiver Ray-Ray McCloud throwing a punch at a Bengals defensive back, leading to a pile-on by Bengals players.

The situation at Miami Gardens, where Dolphins and Giants practiced together, also turned volatile. Multiple players from both teams were ejected for throwing punches. Such measures supposedly aim to prevent further disruptions, but players may view it differently. To some, especially veterans, being removed means less effort in uncomfortable conditions.

Fines on teams are unlikely to deter individual emotional responses or perceived slights. Players don’t generally misbehave during games due to potential personal fines. Compliance enforcement oversees conduct during games but not so during joint practices.

The NFL’s recent fines mark a significant step. However, it might not suffice to discourage future joint practice brawls unless personal financial penalties come into play.