Multiple Detroit Lions Players Hit With NFL Punishment

By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

On Saturday, the NFL made a decision to slap the Detroit Lions hard with not one, not two, but three fines.

Each Saturday during the season, the league hands out punishments to players who break the rules on the field in the previous week's matchups, and the Lions were on the rough side of that this week.

The NFL states on their website that they issue these fines "to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity." They add that the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.

The fines stemmed from Detroit's 34-27 overtime win over the New York Giants last weekend. The game was surprisingly close, since the Giants have an interim head coach and didn't have their starting quarterback Jaxson Dart healthy enough to play.

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Now, three Lions are being punished for actions taken in that game.

The biggest fine goes to safety Brian Branch, who will have to pay up $23,186 for unnecessary roughness (hit on a defenseless player), which took palace at the 1:49 mark in the first quarter of the game. He received a fine for the exact same reason one week earlier due to a hit against the Philadelphia Eagles. Branch has totaled 69 combined tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this season in his 11 games with the team.

The second largest fine was given to linebacker Jack Campbell, who has to pay $17,389 for unnecessary roughness (hip-drop tackle). Offensive tackle Dan Skipper was also hit with a $6,917 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) in the third quarter.

According to the NFL, the funds raised from those fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to "support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game."

All three players have the option to appeal their fines.

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