Brian Branch’s decision to start a dust-up at the end of the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday will cost the safety, both in his bank account and on the field.
The NFL on Monday announced Branch will be suspended for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct after he struck Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, igniting a postgame brawl.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,’ NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Branch in a letter. ‘Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch is appealing his suspension, according to NFL Media. If his ban stands, he will miss the Lions’ ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The third-year veteran expressed his remorse for the incident after the game but said his frustration with Smith-Schuster had been bubbling throughout the contest.
“I did a little childish thing,” Branch told USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell after the Lions’ 30-17 loss. “But I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the plays and the ref don’t catch it, trying to bully me out there.’
As the final seconds ticked off with the result in hand, Branch ignored Patrick Mahomes extending his hand toward him. When Smith-Schuster confronted Branch, the Pro Bowl defensive back struck the receiver. Smith-Schuster then charged toward Branch, who was being held back by Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, and a melee ensued.
Smith-Schuster didn’t accept Branch’s rationale, which included the allegation that he had been blocked in the back on a play that drew no flag.
“I made a good block,” Smith-Schuster told USA TODAY Sports. “He obviously responded after the game. At the end of the day, it’s about the team win.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell held Branch to account after the game.
‘I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here,’ Campbell said. ‘It’s not what we do, it’s not what we’re about.’
Branch’s absence further hurts an already shorthanded Lions secondary. Top cornerback D.J. Reed landed on injured reserve two weeks ago, leaving him out through at least the rest of October as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Fellow starting cornerback Terrion Arnold and backup Avonte Maddox also missed Sunday’s contest with hamstring injuries.
Mahomes made quick work of Detroit’s defense, throwing for three touchdowns while adding another via the ground.