Brian Branch has been suspended for one game after his part in a post-game fight between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. No one will argue against the fact that it was Branch’s punch/slap/shove to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s facemask that started the skirmish, although it could certainly be debated that Smith-Schuster’s conduct during the game—and his approaching of Branch after the game—added fuel to the fire.
Branch is reportedly appealing the suspension, and we should get word of whether it succeeds in the next day or two. In the meantime, let’s discuss whether the punishment fits the crime and other, broader issues surrounding the Lions’ Pro Bowl safety.
That’s exactly what we do on this week’s PODcast. The show kicks off with a full recap of the Lions vs. Chiefs game, including our opinions on why the Lions struggled on both offense and defense and our thoughts on some of the officiating issues. Then we conclude the show with a long discussion on Branch.
We can all agree that what Branch did was unacceptable, and that much was made clear by Lions coach Dan Campbell’s post-game comments, as well. But is a suspension really appropriate? How much does Branch’s reputation come into play here? What about the fact that it was a nationally-televised game? Is the league making an example out of Branch?
Our discussion then moves to Branch overall. This is far from his first emotional outburst on the field. At what point do the Lions need to intervene? Who needs to talk to him? And is there any concern about Branch’s fit within the culture if he cannot control himself during the game? Jeremy, Ryan, and Meko all share their thoughts on the situation on this week’s show.
The Brian Branch discussion kicks off the second segment of the show, which begins around the 33:20 mark in the podcast version of the show. If you’re watching the show on our YouTube Channel, the Branch suspension talk begins at the 1:22:57 mark.
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