Colts’ Zaire Franklin backs suspended Lions safety Brian Branch over JuJu Smith-Schuster fight

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was doing “the Lord’s work” when he faced Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Branch and Smith-Schuster were at the center of a scrum following the Chiefs’ 30-17 win over the Lions on Sunday, and Franklin was all for it.

“JuJu needed her… scream,” Franklin said during a recent appearance on the “Club 520 Podcast.”

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“Let’s get over there… You’ve been needing your… shout for a minute. Brian Branch is doing the Lord’s work.”

Franklin called Smith-Schuster an “asshole” for the way he played.

“(Smith-Schuster) is an idiot, brother,” Franklin said. “This is my thing, I’m going to talk dirty to you. We’re going to go straight up. And when we have that one-on-one, I’m not going to dodge the smoke. So whether I win or lose, it is what it is. He’s the guy who’s going to do all the weird, sneaky little things, shove you in the back, run up to the referee… and then try to be nice to you.”

Franklin referenced photos that circulated online after the fight that showed Smith-Schuster with a bloody nose, and mocked the Chiefs wide receiver for it.

“Bro, you can’t cry with your nose (blood). You got kids, bro,” Franklin said. “What’s going to happen to your son? Come on, bro… I really feel like, bro, I can’t let all of you, my son in the stands, I can’t let you put your hands on me. My girl is watching. She might like you now after this. Like, what, I’ll tell my girl when I get home that I just got yelled at on Sunday night.”

SECURITY LIONS BRIAN BRANCH SUSPENDED 1 GAME FOR FIGHTING AFTER LOSS TO CHIEFS

While Franklin would have loved the scrum, the Lions certainly wouldn’t. The NFL suspended Branch for one game and he lost his appeal.

The Lions will be without their star safety for their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lions head coach Dan Campbell condemned Branch’s actions.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and will not be accepted here. It’s not what we do. It’s not what we do,” Campbell said after the game. “I apologized to coach (Andy) Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.

“That’s not right. That’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be right. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we do.”

Branch called his decision to start the fight “childish.”

“It was childish, but I’m tired of people doing things between plays and the referees not noticing,” Branch said. “They’re trying to intimidate me. I should never have done it. It was childish.”

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The incident occurred when Patrick Mahomes attempted to shake Branch’s hand. The Lions safety ignored Mahomes, prompting Smith-Schuster to approach Branch.

After exchanging words, Branch slapped Smith-Schuster on the helmet. As the fight unfolded and the players tried to separate them, Branch took off Smith-Schuster’s helmet.

Branch’s postgame outburst wasn’t the first time unsportsmanlike conduct hurt him. He had already been fined this season. He was docked $23,186 for fines for mask wearing and unsportsmanlike conduct against the Green Bay Packers in September.

News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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