It was less than a week ago that Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, having put up with three training camp fights between teammates in just two practices, had announced he’d had enough.
First it was star receiver CeeDee Lamb getting into a scuffle with cornerback Kernon Hall after a touchdown. Then, it was second-year tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku going at it after a bit too much pushing-and-shoving after a play.
And last Thursday, it was worse, with punches thrown and landed. Veteran linebacker Marquese Bell swung at rookie tight end Byron Neville, and his punches wound up hitting cornerback Troy Pride.
After that incident, Schottenheimer announced that anyone seen throwing punches would be sent off the field. That cooled tensions, for a while. At least until Wednesday, when things boiled over again.
Brian Schottenheimer Makes Cowboys Run Laps
According to those witnessing practice in Oxnard, there was more discouraging in-fighting from the Cowboys, as a reported three team skirmishes broke out, causing Schottenheimer to stop practice and dish out a punishment that any former youth football player knows well–running.
That’s something that almost never happens at this level. But an angry Schottenheimer actually stopped an NFL practice and made the Cowboys run sideline to sideline to punish the team for its poor behavior.
Veteran reporter Clarence Hill wrote on Twitter/X, “Too many fights cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer stops practice and makes Cowboys run.”
Jon Machota of The Athletic wrote on Twitter/X, “Too much fighting, and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer isn’t happy. ‘You want to fight, let’s f—ing fight. Get your a–on the sideline.’
“He’s making them run.”
Tommy Yarish of Cowboys.com added that Schottenheimer was holding staff members responsible, too: “After the third fight today at #Cowboys practice, a furious Brian Schottenheimer is making the whole team, and even some of the coaching staff, run as punishment.”
Cowboys Asked Whether They Want to Be Champions
As part of the fight-fest, Ajani Cornelius was actually ejected from practice for throwing a punch.
Machota also reported that Schottenheimer ended the day’s practice early, and wrote that, after practice, Lamb was asked what Schottenheimer’s message was for the team.
Lamb said, “Do we want to be champions? Because throughout the years of us being here, talent was never the problem for us. It was always discipline. How do we, like, get ahead and not behind? How do we not shoot ourselves in the foot? How do we not hurt ourselves?
“Honestly, when that momentum is going out wat, we need to continue to keep the foot on the pedal and make the right play and always thing about the team.”
Brian Schottenheimer on New LT
In terms of other news from the team, it appears that while left tackle Tyler Guyton is out, Nate Thomas will be filling his spot with the starting group. Thomas was a seventh-round pick last year, but was injured in training camp and did not play during the season.
“We talked about Nate the other day, big man, worked his butt off coming back from his injury last year,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s massive. Plays with great length. I talked to Nate yesterday on the player’s off day, walking into the meal (area) and was just telling him, nothing changes, play free. Play relaxed. You know how to play this game.”
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