Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch said his one-game suspension by the NFL didn’t prompt him to get baptized. But the former Alabama standout said his planned baptism on Wednesday was “perfect timing” as he returns from his punishment.
“I talked to, where I take my dog for, like, boarding, his name is ‘Mr. Preacher,’” Branch said on Tuesday, “and he’s helped me a long way. I actually get baptized this Wednesday. …
“Honestly, I feel like I got — just turn over a new relief. I feel like I need to be saved by God. Just going through a time like that, and just, yeah, it’s a new relief.”
On Oct. 13, Flem Peacher of K-9 Safety Consultants in Westland, Michigan, shared about his counseling with Branch on the company’s Instagram account.
“Today, my brother showed up to K-9 to pick up his Rottweiler ‘Bruno’ from our boarding hotel,” Peacher wrote. “From there, him and I had a great, healthy conversation, which ultimately led to me sharing my faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. Brian gladly received the message, repented and fully gave his life to Jesus Christ on tonight! Hallelujah, Jesus is worthy to be praised. Without hesitation, he asked, ‘When can I be baptized?’ I told him I’m going to make it happen this week! Another soul added into God’s Kingdom. God can take a negative and turn it into a positive situation! I’m proud of you, bro.”
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On Oct. 12, Branch made seven tackles in the Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But after the game, the safety sparked an altercation on the field.
The problem seemed to stem from Branch ignoring the handshake attempt of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster appeared to say something to Branch about his action, and the former Alabama defensive back responded by hitting Smith-Schuster in the helmet, sending the wide receiver to the turf. When the wide receiver hopped up to confront Branch again, the safety knocked him down again as players from both teams converged on the action.
The next day, the league suspended Branch for one game. Jon Runyan, the NFL vice president of football operations, issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct and applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
Branch will return to the field when the Lions play the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North game at noon CST Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.
Branch said he’s coming back with “a lot of motivation.”
“I feel like it’s another chip on my shoulder that they just added,” Branch said. “And I also want to apologize for that, what I did. That’s something I don’t condone, and it’ll never happen again. But that definitely added another chip to my shoulder.”
Branch said he planned to play as hard as ever but would try to tone down his emotions. In 2024, the NFL fined Branch more than any other player for on-the-field transgressions — $10,128 seven times for a total of $70,896.
“I feel like I get caught playing with too much emotions,” Branch said, “and that brings me to that, and just now, just I still play with the fire but just in between the whistle. And, you know, shoot, now we going on the playoff run, so ain’t none of that. …
“Just got to be smart in certain situations. Coach tells me all the time that they going to, like, pick at me during the play or like just trying to get me to get out my shell and to retaliate. But he said still play with the fire, just learn how to not retaliate when they do that and just play between the whistle.”
Branch served his suspension as the Lions defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 on Oct. 20. Detroit had an open date last week.
Branch said he couldn’t bear to watch the game against Tampa Bay live.
With Kerby Joseph out with a knee injury against the Bucs, the Lions started a new set of safeties, with Thomas Harper making his first start of the season and Erick Hallett the first start of his career at the back of the Detroit secondary.
“All those guys, the whole secondary, honestly, they played together,” Branch said. “They played better than how we played, to me, all year, so I was too eager to get back out.”
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