The Detroit Lions are standing behind safety Brian Branch following the NFL’s decision to suspend him for one game after his involvement in a postgame fight with Kansas City Chiefs players.
The league’s punishment, and the way in which the situation was handled publicly, has upset the Detroit locker room, with several players describing the ruling as “unfair” and “excessive.”
The incident between the Lions and Chiefs
Tensions sparked immediately after the match of the Lions’ 30-17 defeat to Kansas City in Week 6. As the postgame handshakes were taking place, Branch allegedly refused to shake hands with Patrick Mahomes and instead hit Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the facemask, generating a consequent brawl.
The short but intense altercation spilled both benches onto the field before officials and coaches could separate them. Smith-Schuster left with a bloody nose as Branch was escorted toward the tunnel.
After a hearing, the NFL claimed Branch’s hit as an “aggressive, non-football act” and suspended him for a game’s pay. His appeal was rejected by hearing administrator Jordy Nelson, benching Branch for the Lions’ next Monday Night Football contest.
It was a childish reaction. I was mad about the way the game went, but I should have done a better job of keeping my cool
Lions players protest against the NFL
Detroit players did not hesitate after hearing the news of the suspension and the way the NFL managed the situation.
A now-deleted NFL Films clip called “Turning Point,” showcased the fight and Branch’s penalty, generating the outrage of the players. Cornerback DJ Reader did not believe the league’s airing of the play publicly, saying that it unfairly blamed Branch.
If the league actually wanted to put this to rest, they wouldn’t be selling this stuff. They’re turning him into a villain for one error
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed with the sentiment of the video, calling it unnecessary and deceitful.
We know the type of person Brian is. He apologized and owned up to it. I don’t know why they’d continue to show that
Dan Campbell demands responsibility
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed the issue directly, walking a fine line between toughness and sensitivity.
I love Brian, but what he did was inexcusable. That’s not who we are, and that’s not how we represent the organization. But he’s learning from it, and so are we
Even in his capacity, Campbell described Branch as still being a valuable member of the team’s identity , and as a tough competitor whose passion sometimes gets the worst out of him.
Branch has been widely defended by his teammates since the announcement of the suspension. Some of them have worn his number for practice and the locker room has decided to stay together in his absence.
Inconsistency concerns and league transparency
No other player from either team was fined or penalized when Branch was suspended, leading to wonderings of how the league decides who is at fault in these kinds of postgame altercations.
Most of the league thinks that the NFL disciplinary process is poor. Some of the Lions players commented privately that what the league did was appearance over justice. It feels like they wanted to make an example out of somebody. Brian just happened to be that guy.
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