ST.Brian Branch Appeals One-Game Suspension After Chiefs Brawl — Claims NFL Punishment Is ‘Excessive’ and Unfair

Detroit, MI – October 14, 2025

Just 24 hours after being suspended for his post-game punch on Kansas City Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch isn’t backing down quietly — he’s officially appealing the NFL’s one-game suspension handed down on Monday.

According to a report from NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk, Branch filed his appeal late Monday evening through the NFL Players Association, arguing that the punishment was “excessive” for what he called an “emotional reaction” following repeated missed calls and physical play that went unchecked throughout the game.

If the suspension stands, Branch will forfeit roughly $76,000 in weekly game salary. However, a league source told ProFootballTalk that the appeals process will move quickly given Detroit’s upcoming Monday Night Football

matchup, meaning a final ruling could arrive within days.

Branch’s defense reportedly cites precedent from previous cases where players involved in on-field altercations — such as Trent Williams and Davante Adams

— received fines rather than suspensions for comparable behavior. His representatives argue that a financial penalty would be more “consistent with prior discipline” for post-game incidents.

“I lost my cool, I admit that,”

Branch said in his earlier statement. “But I never intended to disrespect the game. I just felt like things weren’t being called fair, and my emotions got the better of me. Still, I’ll face whatever comes next like a man.”

The NFL’s disciplinary office, led by vice president Jon Runyan, emphasized that Branch’s suspension was imposed due to “unsportsmanlike conduct and post-game violence”, calling it a “dangerous escalation” that required decisive action.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the appeal but declined to comment further, saying only: “Brian’s aware of how serious this is. He knows we’ve got to play smart, not emotional. But I stand by my guys.”

As the league reviews Branch’s case, the debate continues across the NFL community — was this a momentary lapse of control, or a sign that officiating frustrations are reaching a boiling point in Detroit?

Either way, the spotlight isn’t leaving Ford Field anytime soon.

Stay tuned to ESPN and NBC Sports for updates on Brian Branch’s appeal.

A.J. Brown Tears Into Eagles Rookie’s Weak Mindset After Being Dropped from Preseason Week 1 Roster

Philadelphia, PA – August 12, 2025

Training camp in Philadelphia is never easy, but this summer, the atmosphere feels even more intense. Between the echo of pads colliding and the relentless sprints, an off-field story has captured the attention of the entire roster.

From day one, the coaching staff has preached the same message: in Philadelphia, no one is handed an opportunity. You have to take it. But this week, one rookie chose a different path — one the team’s leaders simply couldn’t tolerate.

While other players continued battling to make their mark, this rookie skipped portions of the training program, convinced his effort would never be enough to surpass the high-profile 2025 draft picks already penciled into playing roles.

A.J. Brown, one of the loudest and most respected voices in the locker room, wasn’t going to let it slide. “Here, nobody gets a free pass. You want your name on the roster? Stand up and take it — every day, every snap, every hit.”

The player at the center of the drama is Hollin Pierce, the towering undrafted tackle out of Rutgers. He joined the Eagles in May with dreams of making a name for himself, but after being left off the gameday roster against the Bengals, frustration got the better of him.

According to a team source, Pierce believed no amount of extra work would change his standing, so he opted out of much of the coaching program. Ironically, that mindset may have been the very thing to seal his fate.

For Brown, the moment wasn’t just about one rookie’s mistake — it was about defending the culture of the Eagles. This is a franchise built on stories of players rising from obscurity to become legends, but only for those willing to keep fighting.

The team’s response was clear: quitting will never be accepted. Several veterans noted this as a lesson every rookie should remember the moment they step into the NFL.

In Philadelphia, green isn’t just a color — it’s a promise. Hollin Pierce still has time to turn things around, but the real question is whether he’ll rise and fight, or let his NFL dream fade quietly away.