Brian Branch: Suspension from a game confirmed, Lions lose their safety

Brian Branch Loses Appeal and Misses a Game for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

The suspension of a Detroit Lions safety, Brian Branch, was upheld after an appeal filed on Wednesday. The hearing officer was Jordy Nelson, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. On Monday, the NFL suspended Branch for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct, after he hit Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which led to a brief fight on Sunday night.

“Your aggressive act, unrelated to American football, was totally unjustified, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” wrote NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan in a letter to Branch explaining the suspension. “Your conduct reflects a bad image of the NFL and has no place in our sport.”

Jon Runyan, Vice President of Football Operations of the NFL

Branch will miss Monday night’s Lions game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be able to return to the active roster the next day.