Lions’ safety Brian Branch’s fate lies in the hands of a former Green Bay Packers player
A former NFC North rival will be the one making the decison.
As you know by now, the NFL has decided to suspend Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch after Sunday night’s incident with Kansas City Chiefs receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. Just as a refresher, here’s how the appeals process works. I promise there is a point to showing this.
Once the player knows he’s been suspended, he has three days to file an appeal with the NFL Players Association.
From there, the appeal will be heard by hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA. In this case, it’s three former players. Former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson, and former Steelers guard Ramon Foster.
Now look to the end of that paragraph. What do you see? That’s right. That’s what’s happening.
Former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson will oversee Brian Branch’s appeal
We know this since these guys take turns overseeing suspension. Derrick Brooks oversaw Derwin James’ case, Ramon Foster oversaw Azeez Al-Shahir’s, and now Nelson is overseeing Branch’s.
Just because I know Lions fans might bring it up, there shouldn’t be any expectation that Nelson will side with a receiver or go against the Lions because he’s a former Packer. He’s a professional, and bias is not something anyone should have to worry about with a guy in this position. But it is a funny situation that Branch’s fate comes down to a division rival.
As for when we might know Branch’s fate, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday morning that he expects to have an answer later in the day. We haven’t heard anything yet, but we’ll update you as soon as we know.