NFL fines Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy $150,000 for practice violations
The Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy were fined by the NFL on Thursday for organized team activities violations, according to a letter obtained by the Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys were fined $100,000 and McCarthy was fined $50,000 for live contact violations. The team declined to comment on the situation.
In the letter sent from the NFL to the Cowboys, the league details video of a May 27 practice that shows “the intensity and tempo of the club’s interior line play and pass coverage during 11-on-11 drills were at a level where players were clearly engaged in physical contests.”
The league further contends that “excessive contact between defensive backs and wide receivers” as well as between offensive and defensive linemen “resulted in players being taken to the ground,” according to the letter.
The letter reminds the Cowboys that when on-field physical contact between players escalates to an “impermissible level,” the head coach is obligated to intervene and stop the action. Coaches are also urged to remove “overly enthusiastic” players from the field for individual instruction. The OTA rules are part of the NFL Players Association agreement with the league.
Two other teams and head coaches were also slapped with penalties Thursday. The Jacksonville Jaguars were fined $200,000 and coach Urban Meyer was fined $100,000. The San Francisco 49ers were fined $100,000 and coach Kyle Shanahan was $50,000.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who first reported the fines, the Cowboys were ordered by the league to forfeit one OTA practice during the first week of the 2022 offseason. The Jaguars were ordered to forfeit two OTA practices in 2022 and the 49ers were ordered to cancel their final week of OTAs in June.
Meyer and the Jaguars were fined for violating the league’s no live contact rule during OTAs in June, according to Jacksonville.com. Live contact includes blocking, tackling, pass rushing and bump and run drills.
This story was originally published July 1, 2021 at 3:30 PM.
