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**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 11:50 AM

As penalties and fines mounts, Lions' Branch not sweating possibility of a suspension

Justin Rogers
Nov 27

Allen Park — It's difficult to convey how exceedingly polite Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch can be, but I’ll try.

Approaching his locker for an interview on Tuesday, I poked fun at the mounting mess of empty boxes, papers, and fan mail that's been accumulating in front of the stall.

Sheepishly, he tried to blame some of it on locker mate Kerby Joseph before starting to straighten it up, making multiple trips to a nearby trash can as we continued the conversation.

And from the day he arrived in Detroit as a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2023, Branch always starts his interview answers with “sir” or “ma'am.” It’s so formal, it’s almost uncomfortable. His respect for each person he comes in contact with is off the charts, uncommon not just in an NFL locker room, but in any walk of life.

That’s why it’s challenging to marry the idea this is the same guy who leads the NFL in fines this season — four for violent acts the league has been trying to legislate out of the game and another for giving the double bird to 78,330 in the Lambeau Field stands after he was ejected for a hit on a defenseless receiver.

Needless to say, Dr. Jekyll was embarrassed by the actions of Mr. Hyde for that gesture.

“I apologize to everyone that seen that,” Branch said later that week. “That won’t happen again.”

Not all the fines end up sticking, but the NFL only makes the original penalty public. They don’t provide updates on the results of an appeal. For example, the $10,128 Branch was docked for illegally using his helmet when tackling Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride in Week 3 was rescinded after an appeal.

Branch’s agents have been working overtime with his appeals this year. He challenged the hit resulting in an ejection from Green Bay, but didn’t win that one. And while we were chatting on Tuesday, his representation was formally meeting with the league regarding a fine for a hip-drop tackle against Houston.

They’ll almost certainly be back at it again next week. As of Tuesday, he still hadn’t received the all-too-familiar letter, but Branch is expecting another fine for the 15-yard unnecessary roughness infraction he was assessed in last Sunday’s win over Indianapolis.

“If they keep fining me, the Lions are going to help me with these fines,” Branch joked.

Joseph, who had been quietly sitting in his locker looking at his phone chimed in, suggesting Branch license the t-shirts capturing the double birds and use the profits to pay the fines.

What’s clear is Branch is frustrated with the league's reaction to his actions. He was demonstrably exasperated when the official threw the flag in Indianapolis, and when I brought the play up Tuesday, he could do little more than sigh.

The fines obviously aren't crippling financially, but on his relatively modest rookie contract, his game checks are a little more than $60,000 before taxes and dues come out. A crude comparison would be the average Joe getting a parking ticket every time they go to work.

The Lions have made it clear they don’t want Branch to alter the essence of how he approaches the game. They want him to stay aggressive and hit hard. If there’s a correction to be made, it’s an emphasis on lowering the target area, ensuring he’s striking below the head-and-neck area, which should mitigate penalties against defenseless receivers and helmet-to-helmet contact.

But that still might not be enough. The NFL rulebook is clear on using the helmet, at all.

“It is a foul if a player: (a) lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent; or (b) uses any part of his helmet or facemask to butt or make forcible contact to an opponent’s head or neck area. These provisions do not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent. Penalty: For impermissible use of the helmet: Loss of 15 yards. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down. The player may be disqualified.”

Lowering his head and making forcible contact is why Branch was flagged against the Colts.

While we’ve established that the league has rescinded at least one of Branch’s fines, and potentially others dating back to his rookie season, we also know the NFL eventually ramps up their punishments.

Eventually, if you keep getting parking tickets, your car is going to get booted or towed. In the NFL, if you keep drawing penalties/fines for safety-related violations, they will suspend you. It's not a hypothetical. It’s happened multiple times, with Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James earlier this year as a recent example.

Prior to James' one-game ban for a hit on a defenseless receiver this season, he had been fined for the same infraction once in 2022 and twice in 2023.

"Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated," the league wrote in a statement. "Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player."

Asked if he was concerned the NFL could potentially suspend him, Branch was defiant.

“No, I don't worry about it,” he said. “If they suspend me off these, I don't have any business playing football.”

Brian Branch fine history

2023

Week 3: Horse collar tackle — $8,103

Week 3: Helmet-to-helmet hit — $8,103

Week 15: Helmet-to-helmet hit — $8,103

2024:

Week 3: Impermissible use of the helmet — $10,128 (rescinded)

Week 3: Striking/Kicking/Kneeing — $10,128

Week 9: Hit on a defenseless player — $10,128

Week 9: Obscene gesture — $10,128

Week 10: Hip drop tackle — $10,128

Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

Bluesky: Justin-Rogers

**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 11:55 AM

Pride of Detroit Direct

By Ty Schalter, exclusively for Pride of Detroit

NFL fans everywhere are looking forward to feasting on the 90th annual installment of the game’s grandest tradition–when the Super Bowl-favorite Detroit Lions will play to secure their second straight season of 11-plus wins (and counting).

But afterwards, yuck: We’re all going to be subjected to the hopeless Dallas Cowboys.

At 4-7, the Cowboys would currently only make the NFC playoffs if there were a second whole seven-team NFC bracket. They’re playing the miserable New York Giants, one of the only two teams with lower playoff postseason odds than the Cowboys’ own measly 3%.

Who wants to watch that? Not me, and I know none of you do, either.

I say it’s time for the league to put us all out of our collective misery and start scheduling good teams to follow the Lions on Thanksgiving.

Now, look: I understand that Cowboys fans have a lot of emotional attachment to their Thanksgiving Day game. There were some classics back in the 1990s; those of us old enough to remember that one against the Miami Dolphins in the snow will never forget it. But 1991 was 33 years ago—exactly as long as the gap between when the Lions started playing every Thanksgiving and when the league took pity on the Cowboys and let them do it, too.

Come to think of it, why did the league ever let the Cowboys establish themselves as permanent hosts? The NFL had already announced their upcoming merger with the AFL during the summer before the first Dallas Thanksgiving game, and having the two standing Thanksgiving hosts both be from the same conference has never made any sense.

Late, great Kansas City Chiefs owner (and AFL founder) Lamar Hunt lobbied for decades to get one of the two standing Turkey Day games; if he’d gotten his way, we’d be set to watch not just the mighty Lions while we gobble down stuffing, but their potential Super Bowl opponents alongside our pie.

Instead, the Cowboys’ chokehold on the second game means we’ll be forced to watch Cooper Rush and Tommy DeVito lead two teams with a combined 6-16 record into a battle that means nothing to anybody other than Rush and DeVito. Since Dallas is currently 4-6 in their last 10 Thanksgiving games, beating New York would only bring them back up to .500 in their last 10.

Lots of today’s football fans aren’t even old enough to remember the glory days of Emmitt Smith and his entire offensive line being awarded all six legs of a six-legged turkey. Would we rather sit around and pretend Zeke Elliott slogging through 3.2 yards per carry is just as exciting, or watch a great game?

Let’s face it: It’s been a long time since the Cowboys have been “America’s Team.” They haven’t even made it past the second round of the playoffs since 1995—the year before John Madden introduced the world to the Turducken! In fact, the biggest national storyline coming out of Dallas this year is how their $1.2 billion-dollar stadium somehow still blinds everyone at sunset.

If the Cowboys aren’t going to be consistently relevant, there’s no reason to consistently put them on a national holiday stage. At some point, the league has to step in and realize that poorly-played, no-stakes football in one of their best ratings windows of the season is bad for the league. Isn’t Rush vs. DeVito that point?

We already know this can work, thanks to the third Thanksgiving game added in 2006. This much-overdue addition let the league schedule good matchups ahead of time, just like they do for every Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football game. This has led to such classics as, um. Well. To be honest, I’m not sure anyone on Eastern time stays awake for the third game. But surely, last year’s San Francisco 49ers/Seattle Seahawks game was a banger. Right?

This year, after snoozing through Cowboys/Giants, we’ll get to see the Dolphins travel up to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in the late window. Maybe those of us with especially strong constitutions (or who live in further-west time zones) will get to see 5-6 Miami win another snow-dusted upset!

I’m sure Dallas fans will complain, but they’ll just have to get over it. Why should fans of the other 31 teams have to suffer just because they’re used to having their way?

Besides, doing the right thing for the rest of the league won’t mean no Cowboy will ever win the Galloping Gobbler Award again. Wouldn’t it be fun to see Dallas play at Detroit with turkey legs on the line? Surely, with five of the six Thanksgiving game slots open to rotation, the Cowboys would get thrown a wishbone more often than not.

Tradition is important, after all—which is why no one would ever dream of ending the Lions’ near-century-long run as Thanksgiving Day host.

**froot loops** · November 27, 2024, 01:04 PM

Eff the Chiefs they tried to take away the game from both the Cowboys and the Lions during the Millen era. Absolutely not to taking away the game from the Cowboys, just as an absolutely not to taking it away from the Lions. Especially now that the Lions play in Detroit. With the parade, the gigantic Turkey Trot and the game, Thanksgiving day in Detroit is special.

pANDs

The 100 years of Lion Thanksgiving day games have made the Lions a dormant, shadow America's Team. They were so bad for so long that nobody spoke of their fandom, but as they finally are starting to have real success the fans all over the country have been activated. That's why we see the takeovers of stadiums

**CGVT** · November 27, 2024, 01:08 PM

That article was tongue in cheek. He used a lot of the same arguments that people used when they wanted to take the game away from the Lions.

**chemiclord** · November 27, 2024, 02:32 PM

Hell, I'll cop to it. I'm not particularly a fan of tradition for tradition's sake, especially if the tradition stinks.

I'd have no problem taking Dallas's game away if they continue to shit the bed like they are this season. I'd have no problem barring ANY T-Day game if the team was consistently below a certain threshold; like if they average 6 wins or less over a five year period or something.

If the Cowboys don't like it? Then put a competent team on the fucking field. They could have their toy back when they start winning games.

And I said the same thing about the Lions.

**CGVT** · November 27, 2024, 04:13 PM

Davis and Decker out tomorrow. Damn

St Brown and Montgomery questionable, but I suspect that they will play.

**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by CGVT View Post

Davis and Decker out tomorrow. Damn

St Brown and Montgomery questionable, but I suspect that they will play.

I just want both back healthy for the Green Bay Packers game a week from tomorrow night.

**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 04:33 PM

Pride of Detroit Direct
by Jeremy Reisman

Happy early Thanksgiving, everyone. I’m feeling particularly thankful for a lot of things this year. So you’re going to have to bear with me on this week’s newsletter, as I feel the need to share those things rather than do a deep dive on Lions vs. Bears. Don’t worry, you can still get your analysis fix with the First Byte podcast at the bottom of this newsletter, and I’ve got a real great interview with Amik Robertson for you.

But let me take this moment to share my gratitude.

As a reminder before this week’s newsletter that we’re holding our first ever live-recording of the PODcast at the Magic Stick in downtown Detroit. It’s less than two weeks away, and TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Space is limited, so don’t wait!

So much to be thankful for as a 2024 Detroit Lions fan
Like I’m sure most of you, Thanksgiving plans have always been centered around Detroit Lions football. I was fortunate enough to go to nearly every Thanksgiving Day game between 1994 and 2008 with my family, and return home to delicious food waiting for me. It quickly became my favorite holiday, and I produced memories I will forever cherish in those years… despite the poor football over the years.

But ever since I moved away in 2009 and my family subsequently relocated into a warmer climate, we’ve only shared a single Thanksgiving together: 2016, huddled around my dad’s hospital bed.

No Thanksgiving has been the same since. I don’t say this for sympathy. I’m lucky enough to have local loved ones, and I’m creating new memories with new people every year. But there’s always a small hole there that will never be filled. And I know I’m not alone when it comes to this particular holiday or the ones ahead.

This can be a painful time for some, and I just want to acknowledge you if you’re going through that. If you find yourself alone this holiday, or you have to work through it–which I have done on more than one occasion–I feel you. I see you.

And that’s where my personal gratitude comes in. Because while I have been thousands of miles away from some of my most loved ones on this particular holiday, I’ve never once felt lonely. This Lions community we’ve created on the website, on Twitch and YouTube, via podcast, social media, and even this newsletter makes me feel like I’m on a journey with millions of people experiencing the same things I am. My hopes are that you all are experiencing something like that on some level, too.

Because for all the news, analysis, film breakdowns, and columns we produce at Pride of Detroit, nothing has ever been more valuable than community. I was forged in the Pride of Detroit comment section, and the people there helped carry my fandom when I lived thousands of miles away myself. The interactions I have and the familiar screen names I see in the live chats during our podcast streams aren’t just faces in the crowd to me. They’re legitimate friends.

We have our own inside jokes and share plenty of interests. I’ve shared Christmas eve with you as we celebrated the Lions’ NFC North title. And I’ve vented my frustrations more than enough times after Lions losses.

Cynics will say it’s a one-sided relationship and it doesn’t compare to in-person communication, but I’ve read enough emails from some of you all to know that’s bullshit. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, and it’s carried me through some tough times.

Thankfully, some of those tough times appear to be behind us, because we have an amazing football team to root for and a remarkable leader at the forefront. I am still in awe of what we’re witnessing with the Detroit Lions right now, and I think I’m finally at a point where I’m not expecting the other shoe to drop. The Lions are the best team in football. As Jared Goff promised just three years ago, the gut punches have stopped.

At times, it’s really hard to hold back my fanboying of Dan Campbell, because I truly think he’s a stunningly good person and leader. He communicates so well and treats people with a level of respect that makes me want to be a better person.

This world sometimes feels so cruel and cold to those that dare show personality or be their true selves, yet Dan Campbell stands tall as a model of authenticity. A few weeks back, he said my name while answering one of my questions and it took me aback. I know I’m supposed to play it cool and objective, but, holy shit, Dan Campbell knows who I am!

Talking with several Lions players and coaches this week, you can tell they’re hopeful to have one more thing to be thankful for this Thursday: a Lions win.

Detroit hasn’t won a Thanksgiving Day since my final Thanksgiving with my father, and it’s taken a toll on some of the people in the building. Campbell admitted he hasn’t been fun at home to be around after the past three Thanksgivings. Jared Goff said he’d like to enjoy his Thanksgiving dinner for once.

With Campbell capable of creating a motivational tool out of seemingly nothing, I have full confidence that the Lions will be ready for the Bears this week, and we’ll have one more thing to be thankful of on Thursday night.

1-on-1 interview with Lions CB Amik Robertson on staying prepared for outside corner

Amik Roberston has quietly been one of the most important players to Detroit’s secondary players. I was told he’s also a great interview (he is). So I sought him out this week to talk about potentially playing outside cornerback, competing with other defensive backs on the team, and, of course, Thanksgiving. Enjoy.

Jeremy: Last week Aaron Glenn talked about how the defensive backs are always competing against each other statistically and otherwise to push each other. What metrics or statistics are important to your own performance?

Robertson: "Honestly, I look at it as–me playing nickel, I pride myself on helping us look as a group. I’m not really a selfish guy. I want to make plays, but AG’s taught me to–in this scheme–I just have to be myself. Whenever the plays come to me just make those plays and win more than I lose. I don’t have to put on my cape and be Superman. So I just try to be a cornerback, communicate with the corner, safety, whatever I’m supposed to. And just let all the pieces work together, man. Help everybody go out there and do their thing and play fast.”

Jeremy: That said, you had a big fourth down stop against the Colts. How good did it feel, particularly with them using some pre-snap motion to try and trick you?

Robertson: “Yeah, (we) communicated. We used our twos. I knew they were going to keep doing shallow, shallow, shallow to lull me to sleep, but I knew sooner or later it was coming. So, I trusted my eyes, played with technique, and saw the ball. I wanted to try and get it out, punch it out, but I’m like, ‘I’m not going to do too much. I’m just going to slam him and make the play, get a turnover on downs.’”

Jeremy: Would you be ready to play outside cornerback this week, if the Lions need you to fill Carlton Davis’ spot?

Robertson: “I’m a football player, man. I’ve learned when I was younger, when I wasn’t really playing, I was always getting mental reps. If I wasn’t at corner, if I wasn’t at nickel, if I wasn’t starting, I was getting those mental reps trying to (make sure) when my number is called, I’m ready to play. So when we’re in base (defense), I’m looking at the corner, asking for the call, seeing what the corner got, and just visualizing myself if I was out there. So if that’s the case and they need me to play corner, whatever it is to help the team. I’m a DB. I’m a hybrid. I’m able to make plays on the outside or the inside. I just want to be on the field.”

Jeremy: So you’re taking literal mental reps when you’re on the sidelines each game?

Robertson: “Yes. It’s crazy. I was already doing that before I was here. OTAs, (training) camp, even if I wasn’t out there, I was always getting mental reps at corner just in case (of) times like this. (If) they be like, ‘Amik, go play corner,’ I don’t want them to have to worry at all. At the end of the day, I’ve been in the league five years. I know what it takes. They’re going to put the guys out there that they trust, and you just go out there and play fast and help the team win, because that’s what it’s all about.”

Jeremy: Is this your first Thanksgiving game?

Robertson: “I don’t want to lie, but I think so. At least my first Thanksgiving game (that I’m) playing. Last year, I was with the Raiders and we played against the Chiefs on Christmas. But as far as I know, this is my first Thanksgiving.”

Jeremy: Rather play on Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Robertson: “At the end of the day, I think both of them are special, if you get a win. It’s a special day, man.”

Jeremy: Favorite Thanksgiving food?

Robertson: “I ain’t going to lie, my favorite item would be pecan pie or a cheesecake.”

Jeremy: Any type of cheesecake in particular?

Robertson: “Red velvet.”

VIDEO: Lions vs. Bears First Byte preview with special guest Jeff Berckes

**mason reese** · November 27, 2024, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by Dan V View Post

It’s amazing that he couldn’t catch on. He’s got such a low squat in a strong burst. He must either be unteachable and unwilling to expand his talent and versatility. He also could be a non-team player. We could never know that for sure, because that’s just something that a class organization would never say. If Patricia was still here……
I liked him a lot.

There was always something off about the coaching staffs relation with him. The story was always that the O-line advocated for him because he would always give them fits, not that the coaches saw his improvement and were rewarding him. It was like they only begrudgingly played him because he was so good at what he did, and not because he played well in the scheme

**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 05:57 PM

Detroit Lions defense, 'built off so much adversity', embrace chase of everyday perfection

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/27/detroit-lions-defense-striving-for-peak-performance-in-final-stretch/76568403007/

The Detroit Lions have established themselves as one of the top defenses in the NFL despite a host of injuries because of the group's accountability.

**whatever_gong82** · November 27, 2024, 06:08 PM

Paywall article from today's Free Press.

It took 10 wins, but I finally realized the Detroit Lions superpower

It seems so different now, going back and watching the speech with a fresh perspective.

Because the words sound different and the message is so dang prophetic.

“What are we?” Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell asked during a team meeting on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in 2022. “What makes us what we are? And what we are gonna be? I think it’s right there — it’s grit.”

Yes, we have all heard the "grit" speech. It became iconic.

But there is so much more to it, when you watch it years later.
“What does it mean?” Campbell asked. “To me, it means, we’ll play you anywhere. We’ll play you on grass, we’ll play you on turf, we’ll go to an (explicative) landfill. It doesn’t matter. And that’s what we gotta be.”

At the time, it was fun and fresh and just so different. But here is the most important thing: That’s exactly what the Lions have done this season, winning all six road games.

They have won in windy, wet, nasty conditions in Green Bay.

They have won in the thunderous noise in Minnesota.

They have won on the hard turf in Indianapolis.

They have won on the grass in Arizona and swept through the heart of Texas, winning a pair of games in Houston and Dallas.

Yes, they will play you anywhere.

Campbell finished the 2022 soliloquy by saying something that was funny at the time, because the imagery seemed rather confused, but now, it seems even more important.
“We’ll tread water for as long as it takes to (expletive) bury you,” Campbell said.

What an epic line.

Bold and fantastic.

But there is another layer to that quote that is now apparent.

It revealed Campbell’s blueprint for success. In a nutshell, it is this: The Lions will do anything it takes to win a single game, and it’s the underlying superpower of this organization that doesn't get talked about enough. Just win, baby

Every week, the Lions have a singular focus: Just win the dang game.

And that might sound simple. Or even Al Davis-ish.

But it’s actually a different way of thinking, compared to other teams.

“We really focus on how to win one game at a time any given week much more so than any place I’ve ever been,” Lions special teams coach Dave Fipp said.

Don’t let that statement slip by without more reflection.

Because it’s the root of this team’s success.

This team can blow you out — they’ve won three games by 35 points or more, the most in team history.

They can lean into their defense — the Lions have not allowed a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since 1999.

Or they can simply score like crazy, taking risks and bringing out Gamblin' Dan.

But here’s the thing that is important to understand. None of this is by happenstance. It’s not accidental.

It’s all by design.

Every week, the Lions spend a great deal of time trying to figure out what it will take to win that particular game, depending on the matchup, and then they go out and do it.

At least, they've done it 10 times.

“Not every building does this,” Fipp said. “A lot of buildings get caught up in the, ‘How are we performing in this area, how are we performing in that, is it good enough, is it good enough to compare to around the League?’ And what we focus on in this building is, ‘How can we win this game this week?’ And we really don’t care how it happens, and because we focus so hard on finding a way to win that game against that matchup with this team, we find ways to win in a lot of different ways, I really believe that.”

We can see the results.
Some weeks, the offense goes off.

Some weeks, it’s the defense that does the heavy lifting.

And sometimes, it’s special teams.

No matter what they do, they can wait and wait — treading water, if you will — long enough to bury you.

Finding a way to win on Thanksgiving

This concept becomes even important week because the Lions have a different kind of challenge to overcome, facing the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.

It’s a different kind of game, playing on a short week, with more family in town.

And in recent past, it's a challenge they have failed, losing seven straight on the holiday.

So, when the Lions set a plan to win this game, it has to start not on the field, but with all the oddities of this game, having just a few days to recover from playing on Sunday at Indianapolis.

“Well, I think the message is really recovery,” Campbell said Monday. “Rest, recovery and the mental work. It’s how fast can you recover, get your body right, get your mind focused on the job at hand, because you’re not going to get the physical.”

There is another factor. All the families in town to watch this game.

“Block out all the distractions — that’s one thing, the distractions are on us, not on them,” Campbell said. “We’ve got all our family here, friends, all that, you’ve got to block it out, tell them you love them and you’ll see them after the game. That’s kind of the challenge with all this.”

So that's the plan — at least, the plan to overcome the oddities of this game.

The Lions are not facing the ghosts of the past — all those Thanksgiving Day losses.

They are not trying to break a streak.

They don’t have to carry the burden of past failure.

They don’t have to worry about what this game means in the playoff hunt.

They are facing the Bears. And this entire organization has been set up for this moment.

To put everything into winning one dang game. Because losing stinks.

"It's not real fun to be around (when we lose)," Campbell said Tuesday at the team's Allen Park facility. "Ask my wife. She will tell you. She's praying for a win, big time, I mean, because she knows I'm a bear when we don't win. So we all want it, and it is long overdue."

Check that. Maybe, that's the superpower this week. The overwhelming desire to keep the bear in hibernation.

By beating the Bears.

To paraphrase that great philosopher, Dan Campbell: Happy wife, happy life.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.