NFL Films' deleted Branch video draws Lions' ire

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Players wrong the Detroit Lions locker country took discourtesy to an NFL Films video that was released, past deleted, connected societal media involving suspended information Brian Branch claiming it was overly critical.

Lions All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was stunned by the contented astir Branch that was posted arsenic portion of NFL Films' "Turning Point" online bid connected Thursday. The one-minute video was narrated by ESPN's Louis Riddick and portrayed Branch successful a antagonistic airy with a montage of lowlights from the Chiefs' 30-17 triumph implicit the Lions connected Sunday.

"I thought that video was crazy. I don't cognize wherefore it was released, the reasoning down it," St. Brown said. "As I was watching, I retrieve it popped up and I was like, 'I don't cognize if it was similar a instrumentality oregon mockery.' I clicked the NFL and I didn't cognize if it was really them. And it was. So I don't cognize the reasoning wherefore they posted it oregon what they got retired of that.

"But, Brian Branch is an awesome dude. In the building, he's 1 of the nicest dudes. He's quiet, you ne'er spot him truly get mad. He's ever smiling. He made a mistake and helium knows it and helium apologized and I don't cognize wherefore it's inactive getting dragged along, but I don't deliberation that video was right."

The NFL suspended Branch for 1 crippled without wage connected Monday for unsportsmanlike behaviour aft helium struck Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and acceptable disconnected a little combat astatine the decision of the game.

Branch's one-game suspension was upheld upon entreaty Wednesday.

Lions antiaircraft lineman DJ Reader besides said the video "seemed strange."

"If you're saying you don't privation to glorify something, you don't privation thing successful the crippled oregon this, that and the third, past wherefore merchandise this caller video astir it and it's narrated and you're virtually highlighting plays implicit and implicit and over," Reader said. "So, you're shedding much airy connected it than the net was implicit thing that's passed. If you're trying to determination on, past determination on. It doesn't look similar that's what y'all was on."

Reader was besides shocked by the video's narration and Riddick's prime of words, which besides received online backlash.

"Those things conscionable benignant of gives you much clarity successful my caput to spot however radical truly deliberation and however they truly consciousness astir you," Reader said. "As a player, however tin you spot the shield now? If y'all privation to merchandise this and this is however you're shedding airy connected it. You've got to play for your organization, you spot them and the radical you work, but arsenic acold arsenic similar the shield, radical up determination successful New York? I can't spot them.

"I can't judge that they're genuinely gonna person my backmost oregon they attraction astir my information oregon well-being. People who attraction astir you, don't bash that."

Riddick released a connection connected societal media connected Friday saying the intent of "Turning Point" is to papers the events of a crippled bully oregon bad, and determination was ne'er an effort to intentionally formed Branch successful a antagonistic light.

"That being said, I tin spot however the abbreviated clip that was posted could beryllium taken arsenic an effort to formed the #Lions oregon Brian Branch successful a calculated, unfavorable manner," the connection read. "I don't privation to beryllium a portion of that. I volition beryllium definite to marque definite that thing that has my sanction attached to it volition ne'er again permission country for it to beryllium interpreted that mode successful the future."

The NFL besides released a connection Friday astir the clip and wherefore it was deleted.

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