Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch acknowledged that the penalty for his hit on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton was the correct call, but what followed the incident is something the former Alabama player now regrets.
As Branch was ejected from Sunday’s game, he gestured by raising his arms and giving the crowd at Lambeau Field the middle finger, a moment that he now wishes he could take back.
“I don’t want to be known for that,” Branch said on Wednesday. “It was just a reaction in the heat of the moment, and I apologize to anyone who saw that. It won’t happen again.”
The incident occurred during the second quarter of Detroit’s 24-14 win over the Packers when Branch made contact with Melton’s face mask using the top of his helmet. The hit was flagged for helmet-to-helmet contact.
“I completely agree with the call,” Branch admitted. “My target was obviously too high. That was never my intention, though—I wasn’t aiming for the head. Moving forward, I definitely need to lower my target.
