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Dave Birkett

@davebirkett.bsky.social

6.7K followers 28 following 1.6K posts

Detroit Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. 4x Michigan Sportswriter of the Year.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · Feb 11

Gonna leave this pinned here. Get your copy of my book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline." It's a great gift for the Lions fan in your life. If you want it personalized, shoot me an email or leave it in the comments of the order and we'll make it happen checkout.square.site/merchant/ML5...

Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline - Dave Birkett

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1h

Dan Campbell says Lions DT Alim McNeill is 'fricking playing' this week vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers www.freep.com/story/sports...

Dan Campbell: Detroit Lions DT Alim McNeill 'fricking playing' vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alim McNeill is expected to make his season debut on Monday Night Football after missing the first 6 games with a torn ACL

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2h

Dan also confirmed Lions expect to know by end of day on Brian Branch’s appeal www.freep.com/story/sports...

NFL to hear Brian Branch appeal this week; Lions not expecting suspension to get overturned

Thomas Harper, who played 10 defensive snaps against the Chiefs, likely will start in Branch's place if Branch can't play vs. the Buccaneers.

www.freep.com

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2h

Dan Campbell on 97.1 just now: Barring something happening this week, Alim McNeill is fricking playing vs the Buccaneers.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 12h

I can't see it. He told me at the Super Bowl his year in Detroit was "hell." Can't imagine that would make the Lions want to bring him back for a week www.freep.com/story/sports...

C.J. Gardner-Johnson happy to be in Super Bowl after year of 'hell' with Detroit Lions

C.J. Gardner-Johnson will play in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years after spending a year of “hell” with the Detroit Lions.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 12h

Seems worthy of a fine to me. We'll find out Saturday for sure

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 12h

Dan Campbell takes blame for overturned trick-play touchdown; Lions sign CB www.freep.com/story/sports...

Dan Campbell takes blame for overturned trick-play touchdown; Lions sign CB

Detroit Lions signed veteran CB Kendall Fuller to the practice squad to add depth to secondary thinned by injury.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 20h

The NFL is expected to hear Brian Branch's appeal today or tomorrow. Dan Campbell compared Branch's actions to road rage and is going about business this week as if Branch's suspension won't get overturned www.freep.com/story/sports...

NFL to hear Brian Branch appeal this week; Lions not expecting suspension to get overturned

Thomas Harper, who played 10 defensive snaps against the Chiefs, likely will start in Branch's place if Branch can't play vs. the Buccaneers.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Might need to take this back lol

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Ben Johnson's got them Bears playing pretty decent ball of late.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Sounds painful

Matt Maiocco @mattmaiocco.bsky.social · 2d

Jauan Jennings told reporters after the game that he has five broken ribs.

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

No IR for Terrion so gotta figure the plan is for him to miss less than 4 games. DJ Reed expected back next month at some point. Alim McNeill said he's targeting this week to return. Malcolm Rodriguez was targeting end of October to get back at practice, we'll see if it's before or after the bye.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

I'll say this about Brian Branch, too. Nicest dude in the locker room. Always yes "yessir" or "no sir." Super polite, even when he doesn't have a lot to say in interviews. Between those lines, he flips a switch and is one of the biggest hitters around, to the point it's cost him, obviously.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Already fined $34,784 for his 3 fines this year, too. If nothing came back on appeal, that's $111k he'll be out already this year.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Brian Branch is making $1,379,250 this season. His one-game suspension will cost him $76,625.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

For sure. This is Branch after the game: "There was a lot of stuff (going on) but I should have showed it between the whistle, not after the game and I apologize for that."

If he shoves Juju in the face like that after the block, it's a penalty and a fine. Doubt it's a suspension.

mriggy.bsky.social @mriggy.bsky.social · 1d

Branch Wrong but also was cheap shot in game by JuJu

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Fines won't come out officially till later in the week (player usually finds out Tuesday or Wednesday, NFL releases entire list on Saturday)

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Wrote about Kerby Joseph's health, what he's fighting through, and some final thoughts on last night's game before news of the Branch suspension broke. Lions are gonna need Kerby even more if Branch is out vs. Tampa www.freep.com/story/sports...

Detroit Lions need Kerby Joseph to play like an All-Pro despite injury

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said he thinks Kerby Joseph's problems will quiet down after the Week 8 bye.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Branch was fined 7 times last year and has been fined 3 times this year for unsportsmanlike conduct/unnecessary roughness type infractions, before the suspension.

He can appeal. Appeal will be heard by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster or Jordy Nelson, the officers jointly appointed by NFL & PA

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Letter from NFL VP of football ops to Branch:

Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 1d

Lions’ Brian Branch suspended 1 game. Part of the letter from the NFL:

“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players.“

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2d

Pool report official said it was just an on field conference, no help from the booth or NY

Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2d

Detroit Lions grades vs Kansas City Chiefs: It all came down a costly few mistakes www.freep.com/story/sports...

Detroit Lions grades vs Chiefs: Blame coaches for penalty that nullified first-quarter TD

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff completed 23 of 29 passes for 203 yards but did not attempt a pass that traveled more than 20 yards downfield.

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2d

Lions' Brian Branch: “I did a little childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don’t catch it” www.freep.com/story/sports...

Lions' Brian Branch could face suspension after end-of-game hit on Chiefs WR

Detroit Lions' safety Brian Branch appeared to start a fight with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster at the end of Sunday's game.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2d

Why officials overturned Jared Goff’s TD catch in loss to Chiefs: 'We didn't respond well to all the adversity' www.freep.com/story/sports...

Lions on mistakes in loss to Chiefs: 'We didn't respond well to all the adversity'

The Detroit Lions went 0-for-2 on fourth downs Sunday and had a trick-play touchdown nullified by an obscure motion penalty.

www.freep.com

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Dave Birkett @davebirkett.bsky.social · 2d

Pool report on the Jared Goff TD penalty

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