Former Legion of Boom member Richard Sherman gave his two cents after Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was ejected in the Week 9 game for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Sherman has been a vocal critic of what he believes is the NFL’s overregulation.
Richard Sherman Is Fed Up
Sherman vented his frustration on the Richard Sherman Podcast with the league’s current approach to physicality in the game. “This league is just getting ridiculously soft in so many different ways,” Sherman claimed.
He added, “It’s just laughable what this game has become. I mean, you saw the Detroit Lions game. They eject Brian Branch for a helmet-to-helmet hit when he was trying to dislodge football from a player. I mean that’s what this game was built on.”
Sherman is a former cornerback who spent 11 years in the NFL, much of his career playing for the Seattle Seahawks (2011-2018). He has a reputation for aggressive play and fearlessness on the field. He also countered arguments that these changes are part of the sport’s “evolution.” He dismissed the notion, stating, “All evolution isn’t great, and that should be reviewed.”
“If you’re going to give the 15-yard penalty, give the 15-yard penalty, cool. But to eject the guy thinking he went too high. He has literally a millisecond to decide, to make his decision and strike. When he does that a receiver can move up, down and around, left and right, and you just have to aim for where you think he’s going to be. That’s what he did,” Sherman explained.
"This league is just getting RIDICULOUSLY soft"@RSherman_25 sounds off on Brian Branch's ejection from the Lions-Packers game pic.twitter.com/aVzUQ9Gzqi
— Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) November 4, 2024
Branch’s ejection occurred in the second half of the game, yet the Lions managed to pull off a 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Even losing defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, one of their top defensive players, couldn’t stop Detroit’s defense from holding strong and taking the lead in the NFC North.
What Happened to Brian Branch in the Week 9 Game?
In Week 9, Lions safety Branch was ejected against the Packers after a hit on wide receiver Bo Melton. The incident occurred with roughly six minutes left in the second quarter on a second-and-20 play from Green Bay’s 38-yard line.
While Branch’s actions were flagged for unnecessary roughness, NFL officials in New York reviewed the hit and upgraded the penalty to an ejection.
As per USA Today, NFL rules expert Dean Blandino explained during the broadcast that the decision was based on the hit meeting the criteria for disqualification.
However, not everyone agreed. Fox analyst Tom Brady expressed his disapproval of the ejection, arguing that while the hit was a penalty, it didn’t warrant ejection unless there was “serious intent.”
NFL ejects Lions' Brian Branch for hit on Packers' Bo Melton. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady said he disagreed with the decision of the league officiating office, which may raise eyebrows given the NFL's restrictions on what Brady can say. https://t.co/AZD54KBd0t
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 3, 2024
Branch’s ejection left a gap in the Lions’ defense, but backup Brandon Joseph stepped in to cover his position for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, the Lions secured a 24-14 victory, but the tactical battle was still ongoing.