The Dallas Cowboys are trying to establish a new identity in 2026. They’ve talked a lot about physicality and intensity. That’s a good thing, and not to sound “old school,” but it’s still part of a winning culture, even in 2026. But being physical and being undisciplined aren’t the same thing, and Tuesday, August 18, we saw the latter. At least seven altercations were documented between the two teams Tuesday;Cowboys defensive edge Donovan Ezeiruaku’s day was even cut short after one of the fights.
The thing is, these fights just shouldn’t be happening, and seven of them in one day is a black eye for everybody involved. Nobody minds a little jawing at training camp. Football is an emotional sport, but there’s a difference between playing with an edge and letting that edge derail practice and possibly lead to injury or suspension.
What if this happened in the regular season? This game is a game of inches, a game of detail, and losing your cool even for a moment could be the difference between getting cut or not, making the playoffs or not, and for players on the cusp of those consequences, throwing control away so freely could reveal a lot about the makeup of a team.
Players should compete. Offensive linemen should finish blocks. Defensive backs should challenge receivers. Running backs shouldn’t shy away from contact, but once players start throwing punches or dragging teammates into confrontations, the competitive benefit disappears.
A player who finishes a rep and walks away after getting into it with an opponent? That’s competitiveness. A player who starts throwing punches, gets ejected from practice, risks an injury and costs his teammates reps? That’s not toughness. That’s a lack of discipline, and there was plenty of that on display Tuesday, in contrast to the culture Dallas is trying to build now.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the intensity of the practice but made it clear that the fights weren’t what Dallas wanted to see.
The Cowboys shouldn’t dull their edge, they need it, but this edge without discipline is not toughness, it’s a liability.
What’s your take on all the fights at the Cowboys/Saints scrimmage?
