The fallout from the Detroit Lions’ Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles continues to show up — this time, on the players’ pocketbooks.
On Saturday, the NFL announced that Lions safety Brian Branch was fined $11,599 for unnecessary roughness. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was also fined $14,491 for unsportsmanlike conduct for using the goal post as a prop during his touchdown celebration.
These fines mark Williams’ first of the season and Branch’s fourth.
With the Lions trailing 13-6 and 5:05 left in the third quarter, the Eagles faced 2nd-and-10 from their own 4-yard line. Jalen Hurts connected with Jahan Dotson for a 34-yard gain.
As Dotson secured the catch, Branch closed in and delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit. He lowered his head, causing the crown of his helmet to collide with the bottom of Dotson’s chin strap. Branch suffered an injury on the play and was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.
Williams’ infraction came in the first half after hauling in the Lions’ lone touchdown — a 40-yard strike from Jared Goff. As part of his celebration, Williams ran to the goalpost, leaped onto it, and slid down.
Officials quickly hit the Lions with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The penalty also pushed Lions kicker Jake Bates back to a 48-yard extra point attempt, which he missed, leaving Detroit with a 6-3 lead with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
As Williams went to the sidelines, Lions assistant coach and wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery was visibly upset as he spoke to his young receiver about the incident.
“Well, I think it’s very important that we control our emotions. When he came off the field, I did not control mine, so we got past that,” Montgomery told reporters on Friday.
“I think he understands what he did, and I think Coach handled it as well as it could’ve been handled. He understands the gravity of that moment. And it’s a teaching lesson not just for him, but for everyone in that room and everyone in the building.
Earlier in the week, Williams acknowledged that he apologized to his teammates for his actions.
“It’s something I can control for sure, but, you know, it’s gonna move past it. It’s a new week. We got a new game, and that’s just that,” Williams said on Thursday. “Nah, I don’t know, it was a penalty. I really ain’t know it was a penalty till I sat down on the bench and I seen the field goal team going out.
“I apologized to Jake (Bates). I apologize to Jack (Fox). I apologized to coach, everybody. I ain’t look at it like that. They told me it wasn’t my fault, but I feel like it was my fault in the moment. We just got to make plays and be smarter.”
Interestingly, during the Cowboys’ 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas receiver George Pickens copied the same celebration in the second quarter.
The difference? The league hit Pickens with nearly double the fine at $26,085.
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