Lions safety Brian Branch is not concerned about bigger consequences from fines

The move to safety has agreed with Brian Branch, as he's having a fantastic second season. But some of that has been overshadowed by the amount of fines he is getting, and a hit that drew a penalty for lowering the head to make forcible contact in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts is sure to bring another hit to his game check.

Branch was fined $10,128 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride in Week 3.

In Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, he drew matching fines of the same amount for a hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton and his profane reaction to being ejected for the hit.

In Week 10 against the Houston Texans, Branch drew another $10,128 fine for what was determined to be a hip-drop tackle on Texans wide receiver Robert Woods.

Branch has been fined five times this season (soon to be six), and overall in his two seasons he has been fined eight times (soon to be nine)-including four times (soon to be five) for a helmet-to-helmet hit or some kind of improper use of the head or helmet. That has fostered the idea he could be suspended if he can't clean up the illegal hits.

Brian Branch is not concerned about greater repercussions from multiple fines

Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network caught up with Branch in the Lions' locker room on Tuesday.

Fines are subject to appeal, and Branch's fine for the hit on McBride in Week 3 was rescinded (the league doesn't announce when fines are rescinded, of course). An appeal of the hit against the Packers was not successful, as expected, and as when Rogers was speaking to Branch on Tuesday his representation was working on an appeal of his fine for the hip-drop tackle against Houston.

The NFL will ramp up its punishments when it comes to player safety violations. Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James drew a one-game suspension earlier this season after a hit on a defenseless receiver, an infraction he had fined a total of three times for between the 2022 and 203 seasons.

Rogers asked Branch if he is worried about a possible suspension. He gave a brief, pointed answer.

"No, I don't worry about it,” Branch said. “If they suspend me off these, I don't have any business playing football.”