Brian Branch found himself at the center of headlines after the Lions’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football on October 12, following a fight with JuJu Smith-Schuster that led NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan to issue a strong statement against him.

“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” Runyan said in his message to Branch.

Runyan, who knows all about the physical nature of the game from his own playing days, made it clear that Branch’s actions went too far. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game,” he added.

While Branch’s punishment was relatively light, a one-game suspension, it sent a

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