NFL: Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions banned for one game without salary after hitting JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Kansas City Chiefs | NFL News
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was banned for one game without pay by the NFL after hitting Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in an incident that sparked a postgame brawl.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Branch: “Your aggressive, non-football act was completely uncalled for, posed a serious risk of injury and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players.
“Your conduct reflects poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch – who can appeal the suspension – is set to miss the Lions’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Monday.
The 23-year-old will be able to return to the active roster the next day.
Branch: I did a little childish thing
Sunday’s skirmish stemmed from Branch’s rejection of a high-five from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the Lions’ 30-17 loss.
After Branch passed Mahomes, Kansas City player Smith-Schuster got into words with Branch and was subsequently punched in the face and left with a bloody nose.
Players and coaches from both teams had to break up the resulting melee.
Speaking afterwards, Branch said: “I did a little childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing things between games and the referees not realizing it. They were trying to intimidate me and I didn’t do it – I shouldn’t have done it. It was childish.”
Added Lions head coach Dan Campbell: “I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable. It will not be accepted here. That’s not what we do, that’s not what we do.”
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