OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — During a tense joint training session on Tuesday between the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys, Saints wide receiver Ronnie Bell had to be transported off the field on a cart due to heat exhaustion following his participation in one of multiple altercations.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore explained that Bell simply required some time indoors after becoming slightly overheated.
After a second scuffle erupted between New Orleans’ offensive unit and Dallas’ defensive players, Bell made his way to the medical tent. A short time later, he was loaded onto a cart, having stripped off his shoulder pads and jersey. As he was transported away, Bell appeared conscious and was sitting upright.
The Michigan product is entering his fourth NFL season. Over 28 career appearances split between the San Francisco 49ers and the Saints, Bell has recorded 10 catches for 113 yards and four scores.
With temperatures hovering in the upper 70s Fahrenheit (approximately 25 Celsius), the heat felt far more intense due to El Niño-driven humidity, which is rare for the area. This stifling weather appeared to fuel the hostility during a two-hour practice that repeatedly bordered on turning into a massive brawl.
The initial skirmishes took place on the field nearest to the spectators, where the Dallas offensive squad was facing off against the New Orleans defense.
The hostility quickly spread to the adjacent field. There, Dallas edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku clashed with multiple Saints players, sparking a massive pile-up as teammates rushed in. During the melee, New Orleans center Erik McCoy was seen launching a Dallas helmet high into the air.
The conflict between Ezeiruaku and McCoy escalated into physical blows, resulting in the dismissal of the sophomore Boston College alumnus for throwing punches. This marked the second instance during this training camp that Ezeiruaku was disqualified for fighting. He was also thrown out of a Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants last season after ripping an offensive lineman’s helmet off.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted that the team would hold an in-depth discussion about the incident, describing Ezeiruaku as an intelligent player who must realize he cannot put the squad at a disadvantage, calling it a learning experience for him.
Even so, the coach acknowledged he respected his players’ willingness to defend one another on the field.
He clarified that while they refuse to back down from opponents, they must maintain the self-control required to avoid reckless penalties and avoid hurting the team’s overall performance.
Despite the frequent disruptions, Moore expressed satisfaction with what the Saints accomplished during the opening session of this week’s joint workouts. New Orleans is scheduled to practice against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.
Moore admitted the practice lacked a smooth rhythm, but emphasized that they still got the necessary preparation completed.
Schottenheimer, however, was far from pleased with the day’s events.
He remarked that he needed to review the practice tape because he spent the entire session acting as an official. Expressing his frustration, he noted that the team did not get productive reps, complaining about excessive slipping and falling, which contributed to a highly disorganized workout.
Saints Forced to Switch Jerseys After Miscommunication
A logistical error resulted in both the Dallas offense and the New Orleans defense taking the field in white jerseys, forcing the Saints’ equipment staff to quickly track down alternative black uniforms.
Saints linebacker Pete Werner, wearing a tight-fitting No. 89 jersey instead of his standard No. 20, joked that people might confuse him for a wide receiver named Tyree. He added that the snug jersey actually felt good and made him feel more agile.
New Orleans Running Back Kamara Suffers Injury
New Orleans suffered setback blows as running back Alvin Kamara exited the session early due to a knee issue, while cornerback Quincy Riley also left with a groin strain. Moore did not provide an immediate update on the extent of either injury.
