NFL Films Delete ‘Hit Piece’ on Brian Branch’s Actions Against Chiefs After Backlash

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch has been suspended for one game following his altercation with JuJu Smith-Schuster.

NFL Films Delete ‘Hit Piece’ on Brian Branch’s Actions Against Chiefs After Backlash

Brian Branch throwing punches at JuJu Smith-Schuster (Image via Charles Goldman/X)

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Brian Branch knew going up against the Kansas City Chiefs was not an easy task. What he did not realize was that his actions later in the game would end up becoming quite the narrative.

With a few seconds before the end of the game, the Detroit Lions’ safety first ignored a handshake from Patrick Mahomes, and then jawed with Chiefs wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Immediately after an exchange of a few choice words, Branch smacked the receiver’s face. Then, as Smith-Schuster tried to escape the situation, the Lions star went after him, continuing to try to punch him even as the wideout crashed to the ground.

Chiefs players and staff came in to separate them, and then it was revealed that JuJu Smith-Schuster was bleeding from the mouth and nose area. Lions head coach Dan Campbell apologized for the incident and criticized his player for the unwanted action.

The league then stepped in and suspended Branch for one game. Earlier, NFL Films decided to produce a video about his actions both before and during that altercation.

The ‘Turning Point’ video was voiced over by Louis Riddick and detailed how the 23-year-old safety’s actions after the game were a result of his frustrations throughout the contest.

Now, the video is no longer available on social media after public backlash forced NFL Films to take it down. They believed the production house produced a ‘hit piece’ to show Brian Branch in a bad light.

NFL Films regrets releasing Brian Branch video

After this video became a controversial matter, Pat McAfee, through his show, reached out to NFL Films. When pressed on why they released it and then deleted the video, the former punter reveals what they told him:

‘We want all of our shows to have a distinct voice and point of view. In the case of Turning Point, that voice and point of view is Louis Riddick’s… On X, it felt overtly critical to Brian, so we took it down.’

Pat McAfee revealed NFL Films’ statement

The former Indianapolis Colts star also revealed that the full version of this episode of Turning Point was not as critical as the clip featuring a few seconds was on X.

That is why they decided to take it down from the social media platform. Considering how much heat this episode has faced, it is unlikely they will release the full version on YouTube.

Amon-Ra St. Brown criticizes NFL Films’ Brian Branch video

Detroit Lions players soon caught wind of this video showing Brian Branch. ESPN’s Eric Woodyard caught up with star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and asked him what he felt about the video.

Brian Branch remains suspended for 1 game
Brian Branch remains suspended for 1 game (Image via Detroit Lions PR/X)

I thought that video was crazy. I don’t know why it was released, the reasoning behind it. As I was watching it, I remember I popped up, I was like, ‘I feel like it was a trick.’… I don’t know the reason why they posted it, and what they got out of that.

Amon-Ra St. Brown replied

The receiver then went on to praise his teammate for being a ‘good dude’. He also revealed that Branch owned up to his mistake and apologized. Therefore, he could not understand why the NFL authorized this video, which essentially dragged the Lions’ safety through the mud.

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