NFL says all it needs to say about Brian Branch-JuJu Smith-Schuster incident based on one key aspect
They made it very clear.
On Saturday, the NFL released the list of fines handed out from the Week 6 matchups, and one name was noticeably missing from the list.
After the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Detroit Lions, an incident occurred between safety Brian Branch and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The altercation began when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went over to shake Branch’s hand, but the defensive back ignored the gesture, instead walking right past him and brushing it off. Smith-Schuster saw this interaction and wasn’t having it. He confronted Branch, appearing to have said something about this disrespectful act. Branch then came right over and took a shot at Schuster, shoving him in the face. Smith-Schuster went after Branch, and from there, both teams started to get into it. Smith-Schuster was left with a bloody nose.
The league disciplined Branch, suspending him for one game without pay due to unsportsmanlike conduct. He appealed the decision, but ultimately the league upheld the suspension.
Yet, while Branch was disciplined, Smith-Schuster received no pushback from the league, not even getting a fine for his part in the fight. And that’s very telling about how the NFL views the altercation, specifically about who was at fault.
What did NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan’s letter to Brian Branch say?
When Branch was first made aware of the suspension, he received a letter from NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan that said he violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
“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. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game,” Runyan’s letter to Branch said, per a statement released by the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs News
NFL continues to take a strong stance following Lions S Brian Branch Week 6 altercation with Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
A FINAL decision has been made.
