The Detroit Lions have another primetime game on the schedule, as they put in final preparations to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. As fans know, Detroit will be without Brian Branch in this contest, after he was suspended for punching Kansas City Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster following the loss in Week 6.
While the Lions prepare for that game, the league sent Detroit a memo regarding their punch-outs, using LB Jack Campbell as an example. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard pointed that out when speaking with Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, stating, "They want to make sure you're punching the ball and not the player, whatever that means."
Lions Got Memo Sent to Them by NFL Ahead of Week 7
In the video sent by the league to teams around the NFL, they revealed it's a penalty for any player who delivers a strike to another player when attempting to poke the ball loose. Despite this new rule, Campbell said he won't change the way he plays.
"It was just like they were mad about it, they were mad about me punching – missing the ball. 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, punchouts are hard to come by. So I don’t really care, I’m going to keep punching at it and if I miss it ... screw it."Detroit Lions LB Jack Campbell
Things move at such a quick pace on the football field. When players are running full speed at each other and a defender loads up to punch the ball, there's no way they are going to strike the ball 100% of the time. That's not realistic, and there are times when offensive players get hit by blows to their bodies, as the defender misses the ball.
While the league is looking out for the safety of the players, this memo is not something that will stop players from attempting punch outs.
Sheppard also made it clear that Campbell is just playing the game the way the Lions want, according to Freep.com's Dave Birkett.
I mean it’s violent, it’s aggressive and it’s the way we play. We won’t make excuses and I hope it continues to show up and I hope it upticks as we progress in the season," Sheppard said.
Through six games, Campbell leads the team in total tackles (56), with a career-high two forced fumbles already. The results are there, and Campbell has found a way to create turnovers. He isn't going to change his play style now, despite the league having a problem with it.