The New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys learned Thursday afternoon they had each been fined $500,000 for “the actions that took place at the joint practice between the teams earlier this week,” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Those “actions” were a sprawling list of 10-plus fights that occurred during the teams’ joint work on Tuesday afternoon.

The brawls and scuffles included a helmet thrown by Saints center Erik McCoy, Cowboys’ safety being German suplexed by wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner and a number of punches thrown on both of the two fields that were hosting the day’s practices.

While the Saints’ actions dominated the sharing of clips on social media, a number of sources with the team cited that players were defending themselves rather than instigating antics.

The team held joint practices against two additional teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams with no issues.

Both sides are able to appeal the fines handed down from the league.

The practice ignited debate throughout the sports talk world whether or not joint practices are worth the potential for high-tension circumstances like the Saints’ situation with the Cowboys. However, despite the brawls, both the Saints and Cowboys were able to get plenty out of their practice against each other.

New Orleans wrapped up its joint practice schedule on Thursday afternoon with the Rams and will return home after their second preseason game Saturday against the Rams at So-Fi Stadium.

The Saints and Cowboys are scheduled to meet in their final preseason game at AT&T Stadium on Aug. 28. at 7 p.m.

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Kent Masson era begins at Opelousas Catholic with emphasis on strong defense

By Eric Narcisse | Staff writer
21 hrs ago
4 min to read

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Opelousas Catholic leaders include: top row from left, Ethan Belleau, Carter Savant, Braxtin Harris, Colt Thomas and Daylan Edward. Front row from left are Emmett Boyd, Jacob Glynn, Parker Theriot and Peyton Nguyen.Photo by Eric Narcisse

What we know

Opelousas Catholic’s first-year coach Kent Masson wasted little time responding when asked the strength of his team.

“It’s our defense,” Masson said. “We have a really, really good linebacking corps,” said Masson, who replaced Cullen Matherne. “On our defensive line, we are going to be rotating people in and out, but I think we’re going to be pretty good up front. And our defensive backfield is going to cover people really well. Overall, we’re in really good shape on defense.”

Leading the way for the Vikings’ defense are linebackers Ethan Belleau, Braxtin Harris and Colt Thomas along with free safety/quarterback Kaleb Tezeno.

“Ethan is a menace on the field,” Masson said. “He does a great job of reading and reacting to where the ball is. He is quick to where he wants to go. Our linebackers make very few mistakes. They do a good job of understanding what is that we want to do.

“Kaleb is a student of the game. He understands what everyone is supposed to be doing in defense. He’s a leader.”

The Vikings’ defense line has talent, but is young, Masson said.

“I like where we are up front,” he said.

What we don’t know

While the defense is a definite strength, the offense could be termed a “work in progress.”

“We gave a pretty good offensive line,” Masson said. “We have a couple of freshmen at tackle, but we have some big kids. It’s a group that is learning as we go.”

Tezeno, who has the arm strength and accuracy to excel in the passing game, is a talented runner. But considering Tezeno and Harris will start on both sides of the ball the Vikings will need other players step up to establish a rushing attack.

“I think our offensive line is good enough for us to run the football effectively,” Masson said. “We have a solid running back corps; we just have to get these mistakes out of the way.”

If the Vikings are going to prevent opposing defenses from stacking the box to stop the run, Tezeno and the receivers will have to be efficient when passing.

“We have a couple of guys at receiver who can make plays in the passing game,” Masson said. “They just haven’t been consistent enough. They know the route tree, so once they are consistent, we will be pretty good.”

How we see it

Masson said he likes how the Vikings match up with their opponents on their schedule and said the sky is the limit as to what they can I accomplish.

“I have so much confidence in this team that I believe that there’s not a game on the schedule that we can’t win,” Masson said. “I truly believe that. But I also know that we have to make sure that if we do get down in a game that we are not dropping our heads and feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to find that perseverance.”

Masson said the key is staying healthy and improving every week.

Five to watch

Colt Thomas

LB/WR, 5-7, 165, Jr.

Thomas is set to start one year after being forced to sit out a season after transferring. He has a high football IQ, is an aggressive tackler and has proven to be a good route runner.

Kaleb Tezeno

QB/FS, 5-10, 180, Jr.

Set to go both ways for the Vikings, Tezeno will be a vital part to Opelousas Catholic’s success. He tackles well and has good ball skills from his free safety position, while possessing a strong arm and the ability to run as a quarterback.

Ethan Belleau

RB/LB, 5-8, 185, Sr.

Described as a “menace on the field,” Belleau is a physical tackler who diagnoses plays quickly and gets to the ball in a hurry. A student of the game, Belleau rarely makes assignment mistakes.

Braxtin Harris

RB/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Another two-way starter for the Vikings, Harris will be counted on to lead the rushing attack on one side of the ball and stop it on the other. He’s extremely quick, runs hard and doesn’t shy away from contact.

Aiden Lafleur

K/TE/LB, 6-1, 175, Sr.

While Lafleur will see time in all three phases of the game, he will be counted on to solidify the Vikings’ kicking game. He has a strong leg capable of forcing touchbacks on kickoffs and making 50-yard field goals.

Offense

WR Lane Dugas (6-2, 185, Sr.)*

WR Colt Thomas (5-7, 165, Jr.)

WR TySean Tolbert (5-7, 135, Jr.)

TE Bennett Citron (6-2, 210, So.)*

LT Jack Nugent (6-0, 200 Fr.)

LG Owen Richard (6-0, 270, Fr.)*

C John Parker Fontenot (6-1, 280, Sr.)*

RG Kye Latiolais (6-0, 265, Sr.)*

RT Cole Daigle (6-1, 220, Soph.)

QB Kaleb Tezeno (5-10, 180, Jr.)

RB Braxtin Harris (6-0, 180, Sr.)

Defense

DT John Parker Fontenot (6-1, 280, Sr.)

DT Cole Daigle (6-1, 220, So.)

NG Bennett Citron (6-2, 210, So.)

LB Ethan Belleau (5-8, 185, Sr.)*

LB Braxtin Harris (6-0, 180, Sr.)*

LB Colt Thomas (5-7, 165, Jr.)

LB Jacob Glynn (5-8, 175, So.)

CB Carter Savant (5-9, 165, Jr.)*

CB Ben Minyard (6-, 155, Sr.)*

SS Evan Duplechain (5-8, 160, Jr.)*

FS Kaleb Tezeno (5-10, 180, Jr.)*

* Returning starter

Coaches

Kent Masson

Head coach: Kent Masson (0-0)

Assistant coaches: Chris Schexnayder (DC), Steven Dye (OL/DL), Yves Prince (DL), Sammy Griffin (OL), and Jacob Tonglet (TE).

2026 schedule

Sept. 4 BREAUX BRIDGE

Sept. 11 Welsh

Sept. 18 Covenant Christian

Sept. 25 SACRED HEART

Oct. 2 Westminster

Oct. 8 JS Clark

Oct. 16 HANNAN

Oct. 23 ST. EDMUND

Oct 30 North Central

Nov. 5 BERCHMANS ACADEMY

2025 results

Beat Iota 14-7

Beat East Beauregard 43-6

Beat Port Barre 47-6

Lost Sacred Heart 3-0

Beat St. Edmund 52-30

Lost Westminster 24-22

Beat North Central 57-6

Lost Vermilion Catholic 50-15

Beat Berchmans 47-6

Lost Catholic-PC 45-14

Playoffs

Beat Ascension Christian 35-7

Lost Westminster 48-35

Past five years

2025: 7-5

2024: 8-4

2023: 7-4

2022: 9-4

2021: 9-2

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

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