Brian Branch couldn't bear to watch his teammates play without him. It "would make me miss' em," he said, "miss being out there." When he eventually reviewed the Lions' 24-9 win over the Buccaneers last Monday night for which he was suspended, Branch couldn't believe how well the secondary played despite missing four starters.
"Honestly, together, they played better than how we played with me all year," Branch said Tuesday with a laugh. "So I was too eager to get back out."
Lions safeties coach Jim O'Neil can't wait for No. 32 to run out of the tunnel Sunday against the Vikings, expecting to see "an even more motivated Brian Branch." Asked what that might look like, O'Neil smiled and said, "It’s scary. Because he’s clearly one of the best players at his position in the league." Branch, with a grin of his own, described it like this: "Relentless effort and aggression."
You might see a different player after the whistle on Sunday, after Branch lost his cool on national TV and took a swipe at JuJu Smith-Schuster shortly after the Lions' Week 6 loss to the Chiefs. You will see the same one between the whistles. Branch apologized Tuesday for what he did, said it's "something that I don't condone," and vowed that "it will never happen again."
He also vowed to keep playing with the same snarl that's made him one of the best safeties in the NFL. When Branch was asked about the challenge of holding back some of the emotions that have sometimes gotten the best of him in his young career, he said, "Honestly, in a way you don't. Just gotta be smarter in certain situations."
That's the message directly from Dan Campbell. As Campbell often says, the worst thing you can do is take away a player's "stinger." Few players sting like Branch. While Campbell warned Branch that opponents are going to try to get under his skin and goad him into penalties knowing his reputation, "he said, 'Still play with that fire,'" said Branch.
"Just learn how to not retaliate when they do that, and just play between the whistle."
Branch, who turned 24 last week, has also sought emotional advice from a preacher that he's come to know at the kennel where he boards his dog. In fact, their conversations have had such a profound impact on Branch that he's getting baptized by the man he calls "Mr. Preacher" this week; Branch's friend and fellow defensive back Terrion Arnold was baptized last month. It's something that Branch said he's "been wanting to do," and the distress of last week made for "perfect timing."
"Honestly I feel like I gotta just turn over a new leaf. I feel like I needed to be saved by God just going through a time like that," he said.
It was Arnold's idea for Branch's teammates in the secondary to wear his jersey after the Lions' win over the Bucs; turns out O'Neil and some of the other defensive coaches did so as well. While Arnold, DJ Reed and Kerby Joseph were also sidelined for the game, Branch was barred from even attending. Branch smiled when Arnold suggested the show of solidarity in the group chat with the defensive backs, "like, OK, man, they didn’t have to do that," he said. "But I love 'em, man. Those are my brothers."
"I think they notice where I stand with them as far as, like, I’d die out there for them boys," said Branch.
Same for the coaches, from Campbell to O'Neil to defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, all of whom have gone out of their way to defend Branch's character in the wake of his suspension. O'Neil called him "one of my all-time favorite people, all-time favorite players that I’ve ever coached," noting how engaged Branch is in meeting rooms and how frequently, for example, Branch asks O'Neil about his family.
"I feel like I shot our team in the foot with what I did, and for them to have my back, I love them for that. I’d go to war for them any day of the week," Branch said. "It’s gonna be like that until it’s all over."
It starts anew for Branch on Sunday. He knows he erred in Kansas City. He understands he'll be a target moving forward. He's committed to keeping his head. He "dealt with the consequences" of his actions, he said, and will return to the field with "a lot of motivation."
The same Brian Branch, but different: "It definitely added another chip to my shoulder," he said.