The Detroit Lions are going to be without defensive back Brian Branch this week because he punched an opponent after their most recent game, earning a one-game suspension from the NFL. Another one of their star defensive players, linebacker Jack Campbell, is drawing attention for his bad habit of accidentally punching players during games.
Jack Campbell used as an example on the NFL’s “punch-out” emphasis
The NFL sent a memo out to its 32 teams this week, warning players that when they are attempting to punch at the football in an attempt to force a fumble, they have to make sure they are hitting the ball. Not the ball-carrier.
Campbell was used as a prime example of what not to do.
The league is going to be enforcing personal foul penalties for defenders who punch the ball-carrier instead of the ball.
After finding out that he was used as an example of what not to do, it would be reasonable to conclude that Campbell would use that as a motivating factor to not getting penalized.
He had the exact opposite response and doesn’t seem all that interested in changing the way he plays or goes for the ball.
Campbell explained that punch-outs are hard to come by and that when you’re going full speed, it’s hard to focus on just the ball.
His comments, via 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit:
“I don’t know how many people have played in an NFL game, but when you’re going full speed and you’re trying to get the ball out, punch-outs are hard to come by. So, I don’t really care. I’m going to keep punching, and if I miss it, ‘f’ it. Screw it. So, I’ll probably have 150 personal fouls by the end of the year, so that’ll be fun.”
That will be fun, of course, until a personal foul penalty changes a game and the Lions end up losing a game because of it.
On one hand, Campbell is correct that playing football at full speed is a tough and complicated job. When you’re trying to punch at the football that a ball-carrier has secured and doing everything they can to avoid you, it’s only natural to assume sometimes body contact is going to get made.
But there’s a reason the NFL is cracking down on this stuff. It’s obviously seeing some trends it does not like with players getting free punches in on opponents during play.
The punch-out play was popularized by former Chicago Bears defensive back Charles Tillman, who forced 44 fumbles in his 13-year career, including a league-leading 10 during the 2012 season.
Campbell has forced three fumbles in his career, including two this season in the Lions’ first six games.
