Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III is urging the league to take another look at the role Detroit Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown played in a heated exchange that resulted in Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne being suspended. Griffin’s remarks surfaced online as conflicting video clips and differing accounts of the incident continued to circulate.
The scuffle occurred in the second quarter of Detroit’s 44–22 win, shortly after a Lions touchdown. Payne was thrown out of the game for punching St. Brown in the helmet, and the NFL announced the following Monday that he would serve a one-game suspension. Several Commanders players challenged the league’s decision and released their own footage, claiming it showed St. Brown making the first aggressive move.
Griffin argued on social media that if St. Brown indeed struck Payne beforehand, the league should apply the same disciplinary standards to him. His comments revived an ongoing debate about fairness in on-field discipline and whether all relevant angles and reports were reviewed before the punishment was handed down. Fans, analysts, and former players quickly chimed in, disagreeing over who instigated the confrontation.
According to league sources, further review is possible. The NFL commonly assesses additional camera angles and officials’ notes when determining penalties. Some within the Commanders organization maintain that Payne’s ejection and suspension ignored the broader context of the altercation, while the Lions insist their receiver did not escalate the situation. Online videos show multiple perspectives of the melee, but none definitively capture the exact moment that triggered Payne’s punch.
Griffin reiterated his stance on X, posting that the league should evaluate whether St. Brown deserves discipline of his own. His message added more heat to a Commanders season already riddled with setbacks, while Detroit pushes forward with a surging offense.
Payne will miss Washington’s Week 11 matchup in Madrid unless his appeal succeeds, and St. Brown now faces heightened scrutiny as commentators debate whether the league should intervene further.
The dispute also highlights larger concerns about the NFL’s disciplinary process — particularly how quickly decisions are made and how transparent the league is when reviewing chaotic, high-emotion sequences. With attention still fixed on the incident, teams and fans await any updates on whether additional penalties will be issued.
