He came from the Crimson Tide and wears Honolulu blue in Detroit, where Brian Branch is becoming known for the lime-green mouthguard protruding from the top of his helmet. It wags back and forth when he flies around the field, like a finger waving no to ball-carriers and quarterbacks.
The placement of the mouthpiece is practical. Branch wants to be able to -- imagine this -- breathe and communicate with his teammates in the midst of action on defense.
"I put it up there because I can’t really breathe with it in, especially, god forbid, if we’re on the field for a long time. I’ve been playing with it like that since college, so I guess it’s a tradition," Branch said Tuesday.
The Lions rookie defensive back gave some thought to actually wearing the mouthpiece last week with Bijan Robinson and the run-heavy Falcons coming to town. It was Robinson who might have needed one. Branch flattened the 8th overall pick with such force late in Detroit's win that Robinson's helmet wound up five yards behind him.
"I thought I was going to put it in last week just because they ran the ball a lot," said Branch. "But nah, if I ain’t put it in this week, I probably won’t put it in (ever)."
As for the color choice, Branch would rather keep that to himself. He said he's always worn a green mouthpiece, which "has a deeper meaning that I can't really share." And if he becomes defined by the piece of lime-green rubber sticking out of his helmet, Branch is cool with it.
"Shoot, hey, I guess that’s going to be my little trademark," he smiled.
More likely, he'll become known for making plays.