'That's not toughness': Cowboys' McCarthy decries camp fights ahead of Rams joint practice
The Cowboys’ preseason schedule has historically made smart use of their SoCal summer residency by pitting the team against at least one of the L.A. squads. The Cowboys have even taken it upon themselves to work in a joint practice or two with either the Chargers or Rams in recent years (and even the Raiders, back when they were in town).
Both of those traditions are set to continue this week as the Cowboys will host the Rams at camp on Thursday, then make the 65-mile drive to SoFi Stadium to play a preseason game against them on Sunday.
After weeks of practicing against their own teammates, players getting to finally square off against opponents in a different uniform generally causes tempers to flare. Things got nasty on consecutive days just this week, for example, between the Giants and Lions practicing together in East Rutherford, with several marquee players throwing punches.
But Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy explained that he’s not interested in similar extracurricular activity when the Rams come to Oxnard for their work session.
“It’s a waste of time,” McCarthy said Tuesday during his pre-practice press conference. “I don’t want guys fighting. That’s not toughness; it’s lack of discipline. We want the work to get to that emotional edge, to push each other, but you’ve got to handle those spots. That’s all part of the emotional challenge in the game of football.”
He’s delivered the same message in years past, but it hasn’t necessarily worked in keeping players’ fists to themselves.
A quick scuffle between then-Cowboys guard Connor Williams and Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald marred their last joint practice in 2021. And a 2015 joint practice was famously shut down early by coaches Jason Garrett and Jeff Fisher after an all-out brawl erupted and spread into a viewing area packed with fans.
Huge fight at Cowboys-Rams practice… @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/Jvk3P0XvrA
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) August 19, 2015
McCarthy expects things to run much smoother on Thursday; he says he and Rams coach Sean McVay discussed the topic earlier in the spring when the session was first scheduled.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t a little extra pop- for both teams- when the pads go on against actual opponents.
Because there always is.
“There’s no concern, but we want to have a hell of a practice. That’s why we’re working together,” McCarthy said. “I think the work Thursday will be great.”
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