The Detroit Lions’ defensive back, Brian Branch, faced a review regarding his one-match ban for a physical altercation after his squad’s defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. The verdict has been confirmed, indicating Branch will be absent for the Week 7 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thereby losing his compensation for that game. According to sources from the NFL, the appeal process was supervised by Jordy Nelson, previously a prominent receiver, who currently serves as an appeals official for the organization.
Following the Lions’ 30-17 setback against the Chiefs, Branch was the catalyst for a confrontation when he struck receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster subsequent to the game’s concluding play, provoking a wider conflict involving both factions. Lions head coach Dan Campbell openly disapproved of Branch’s actions, and Branch himself conveyed regret, although he mentioned experiencing annoyance due to Smith-Schuster’s behavior during the course of the match.
“I behaved in a truly immature way,” Branch acknowledged. “I’m frustrated by instances occurring between plays that referees overlook. They attempt to intimidate me out there. I shouldn’t have reacted; it was immature.”
NFL hands Brian Branch suspension without pay for instigating a postgame altercation between Lions and Chiefs
Bryan DeArdo
Branch’s disciplinary measure is the most recent one directed towards him by the NFL’s administrative body. Branch has been penalized 14 times throughout his professional tenure in the NFL, which includes four instances during the current season. Prior to the Sunday game, Branch had accumulated fines totaling $34,784 for one case of unsportsmanlike behavior and two instances of unnecessary roughness.
The suspension of Branch will leave the Lions’ defensive unit without a key player as they approach another demanding contest, set for Monday night in primetime against the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
