Locker room buzz: Branch's scuffle, officials explain penalty, St. Brown's drop, new pieces in secondary and more
Kansas City, Mo. — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Post-game skirmish
Frustrated by what he viewed as multiple missed calls by the officials, including a block in the back by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, Lions safety Brian Branch open-hand slapped Smith-Schuster shortly after the game finished, sparking a brief scuffle that had players from both teams trying to separate the two.
Branch spoke briefly after the game and partially took accountability for his actions.
“I did a little childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the plays and refs don’t catch it,” Branch said. “They be trying to bully me out there and I don’t — I shouldn’t have done it. It was childish.”
Branch, who has been battling an ankle injury that nearly sidelined him this week, expressed concern that he could have been further injured by the block in the back.
Coach Dan Campbell, who watched a replay of the altercation as he walked to the podium for his post-game press conference, was unequivocal in his condemnation of the young defensive back’s actions.
“Let me start with this: I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable, and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do. It’s not what we’re about. I apologize to coach (Andy) Reid, the Chiefs and (Smith-)Schuster. That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here, and it’s not going to be OK. He knows it. Our team knows it, and so that’s not what we do.”
The oft-fined Branch said he should have reserved his aggression between the whistle, apologizing for letting his emotions get the better of him. Branch should anticipate another round of discipline from the league, and it’s within the realm of possibility that he’ll face a suspension.
Smith-Schuster largely took the high road after the contest, but did squeeze a back-handed barb to end his session with local reporters.
“He’s a great player and he’s huge for (their) team,” Smith-Schuster said. “After the game, I expected to shake his hand and say, ‘Good game.’ But he threw a punch. It’s a team sport, so it’s about coming out here and we did our job and we won. That’s all that matters.
“…“I know he’s a better player than that and a better person,” Smith-Schuster said. “He’ll learn from his mistakes.”