Ronnie Bell carted off because of heat as fights break out during Saints-Cowboys joint practice

New Orleans wide receiver Ronnie Bell was taken off the field due to the intense heat during a joint practice between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, California on Tuesday. Bell's participation in the heated workout was cut short as he succumbed to the effects of high temperatures and humidity, which were exacerbated by the El Nino effect.

After a series of skirmishes between the Saints offense and Cowboys defense, Bell made his way to the trainer's tent, where he was eventually placed on a cart while wearing only his jersey and shoulder pads, still fully conscious. The 28-year-old, who is into his fourth NFL season with the San Francisco 49ers and Saints, has accumulated 10 receptions for 113 yards and four touchdowns in 28 games.

The practice, which lasted for two hours, saw tensions boiling over several times, starting with a fight on the field nearest to the fans where the Cowboys offense clashed with the Saints defense. This incident escalated onto the other side of the field, where Dallas outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku engaged in a clash with multiple New Orleans players before a mass brawl ensued, with Saints center Erik McCoy even hurling a helmet high into the air.

Ezeiruaku was subsequently removed from the practice for his aggressive behavior, marking the second time he had been ejected in training camp – previously for pulling a helmet off an offensive lineman during a Week 18 loss to the New York Giants.