Lions’ Jack Campbell Dismisses NFL Warning on Punch-Outs: “I’m Going to Keep Punching”

The league has sent a Jack Campbell Memo to the Lions.

Lions’ Jack Campbell Dismisses NFL Warning on Punch-Outs: “I’m Going to Keep Punching”

Lions LB Jack Campbell (in blue) grabs hold of Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving (Image via IMAGO)

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Jack Campbell is a free Lion who refuses to be tamed by the NFL Office. But going against the league’s wishes seldom ends favorably for the defiant player.

Campbell made his name as a powerful pass rusher with a keen eye for TFLs (tackles for loss). There are several ways of recording a successful TFL, and Campbell’s preferred method is punching the ball out of his opponent’s grasp.

Now, the league has issues with how Campbell handles his tackles during the game. A memo was sent out to the Lions camp cautioning them to refrain from using the ‘punch outs.’ Campbell doesn’t care. He won’t change the way he plays football. He said:

I don’t know how many people have played in an NFL game, but when you’re going full speed and you’re trying to get the ball out, punch-outs are hard to come by. So I don’t really care. I’m gonna keep punching. And if I miss it, [expletive] it. Scr*w it.

What is the “Jack Campbell Memo,” and why does the league want to enforce it?

Speaking with the media earlier this week, the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Kelvin Sheppard, discussed the nitty-gritties of what he called the “Jack Campbell Memo.”

Lions’ Jack Campbell Dismisses NFL Warning on Punch-Outs: “I’m Going to Keep Punching”
Jack Campbell played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes (Image via IMAGO)

According to Sheppard, the NFL deemed Campbell’s ‘punch outs’ as violent and a potential threat to opposition players. The league reviewed every fumble forced by Campbell this season. The clips contained the 25-year-old Iowa graduate strip-sacking Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and then a ‘punch out’ of Bengals running back Chase Brown.

Sheppard went on to explain that this is how the Lions play football. This is how Lions players are being developed, like “a pack of wild dogs.” It’s impossible to just give up on the identity that they have built under head coach Dan Campbell. Sheppard said:

It’s violent, it’s aggressive, and it’s the way we play. We won’t make excuses. I hope it continues to show up and I hope it upticks as we progress in the season.

The number of setbacks the Lions have had in the past seven days, one might believe that the org is under a voodoo spell. Campbell saw a well-executed touchdown involving quarterback Jared Goff being disallowed. Not to forget the biggest bulletin board material that took place after the final whistle at Arrowhead Stadium.

Lions safety Brian Branch punched Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster in the face for allegedly “bullying him” during the game. Branch received a one-game suspension for his misdemeanor. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1.

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.

Campbell apologized to the Chiefs on behalf of Branch. The Lions welcome the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. Detroit holds a 32-29 overall record over the Bucs.

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