NFL suspended on Monday detroit lions Security brian branch Not paid for a game for unsportsmanlike conduct after he was hit kansas city chiefs wide receiver juju smith-schuster And a brief fight broke out on Sunday night.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was completely inappropriate, 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 John Runyan wrote in a letter to Branch. “Your conduct reflects poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch plans to appeal the suspension, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The appeal will be heard by a hearing officer appointed jointly by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
Branch will miss next Monday’s match against the Lions tampa bay buccaneers And will be eligible to return to the active roster the next day.
after detroit lost 30-17 Sunday night in Kansas City, the Chiefs quarterback patrick mahomes Tried to give Branch a high-five as soon as he got near midfield. Branch passed Mahomes, and Smith-Schuster, angered by the move, walked up to Branch and had a word with him.
Branch responded by striking Smith-Schuster over his facemask and knocking him to the ground.
Smith-Schuster got to his feet and went behind the branch. Chiefs are running behind Isia Pacheco Tried to get between them, but Branch was successful in breaking Smith-Schuster’s helmet as dozens of players from both teams clashed.
Eventually, the coaches and players parted ways, and they eventually left the field for the locker room.
After the game, Branch said, “It was a childish thing to do, but I’m tired of people doing things in the middle of the game and the referees not catching it.” “They’re trying to bully me there. I should never have done that. It was childish.”
Branch was also fined $23,186 for wearing a facemask and unsportsmanlike conduct. green Bay Packers Last month.
Branch’s plan to appeal the suspension was first reported by NFL Network.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
