Detroit defensive back Brian Branch thought he was illegally blocked in the back during the Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, without referees calling a penalty.
So, as soon as the game ended, Branch took matters into his own hands, or rather, into his own hands.
After the final play, Branch approached the left side of Musk, the Chiefs receiver he later said was responsible for the illegal block, with an open hand.
Smith-Schuster fell to his knees, but quickly got back up and went after Branch. Both players briefly scuffled, with Smith-Schuster losing his helmet and returning to the field as other players and coaches tried to intervene.
After the game, Branch apologized to reporters, taking responsibility for his actions and attempting to explain what had offended him.
“I did something a little childish,” the third-year player said. “But I’m tired of people doing things between plays and the referees not catching it. For example, they were trying to bully me outside and I don’t think so. I shouldn’t have done that. It was childish.”
When asked to elaborate on what happened during the match, Branch said: “There was an illegal block at the back. It was right in front of the referee. The referee didn’t do anything, he just did something like that. He could have gotten hurt, but he still shouldn’t have done it.”
Branch said later in the interview that within the rules of the game, “I should have vented my frustrations between the whistles and not after the match. I would like to apologize for that.”
Branch was fined $23,186 earlier this season for face mask and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during a game against the Green Bay Packers. On Sunday night, an NFL spokesperson told the Times he faces new fines and possible suspension. No decision is expected to be made on this matter.
The Chiefs offense and Lions defense were on the field for the final play. As soon as the final whistle blew, Branch appeared and confronted Smith-Schuster as the Kansas City quarterback held out his hand for a postgame handshake.
“After the game, I thought I was going to shake his hand and say, ‘Good fight,’ and walk away, but he threw a punch,” Smith-Schuster told reporters in the locker room. “At the end of the day, this is a team sport. We came here, did our job and won. That’s what matters.”
Smith-Schuster was asked what led to the incident.
“So I’m just blocking him,” the ninth-year receiver said. “I mean, I’m just doing my job. I’m playing between the whistles, but after the game, he just capitalized on what he did.”
Smith-Schuster reportedly suffered a nosebleed from the impact. There were no signs of bleeding when he was interviewed after the game, but coach Smith-Schuster confirmed he was bleeding.
Detroit’s coach, who famously declared during his 2021 inaugural press conference that his team would bite off opposing players’ kneecaps, told reporters that Branch’s actions were unacceptable.
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did was inexcusable and will not be accepted here,” Campbell said. “That’s not what we’re doing. That’s not what we should be doing. I apologized to Coach (Andy) Reid and the Chiefs and Schuster. That’s not okay. That’s not what we do here. That’s not okay. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we do.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
