DETROIT – Detroit Lions star Brian Branch apologized for the way he left the field this weekend after being ejected against the Green Bay Packers.
Branch was ejected from the game after an illegal hit to the helmet of wide receiver Bo Melton. At first, the hit only received a 15-yard penalty, but then, the NFL called down to the officials and told them to eject Branch from the game.
He wasn’t happy with that decision, and as he left the field, Branch flipped off the crowd with both hands.
On Wednesday, he apologized for that emotional respect, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
“That‘s not something I want to, you know, show, (or) people to, like, notice me as that,” Branch said. “I feel like that was just the heat of the moment to me, and I apologize to everybody who saw that. It won’t happen again.”
Branch also said that after seeing the replay, he agreed with the penalty for a hit to the head. He said his target was too high, but it wasn‘t his intent to aim for Melton’s helmet.
The Lions won the game, 24-14, to improve to 7-1 on the season. They have the best record in the NFC heading into the second half of the schedule.
