Video evidence has emerged appearing to show Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown throwing a punch at Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne during a Week 10 matchup.The footage, shared Tuesday by NBC Washington’s JP Finlay, contradicts initial reports suggesting payne’s ejection and subsequent suspension were solely the result of his retaliatory strike.
The incident occurred during a scuffle following a Lions score. While Payne was suspended Monday for punching St. Brown and the appeal was denied, resulting in a missed Week 11 game against the Dolphins, the newly surfaced video raises questions about potential disciplinary action for St. Brown. The NFL has historically not accepted retaliation as justification for initiating physical altercations, but the video suggests St. Brown landed a blow to Payne’s helmet before the Commanders player responded.
According to The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala,St. Brown acknowledged a prior “little scuffle” with Payne two plays earlier.”We got into a little scuffle, back and forth, whatever, this, that, and the other,” St.Brown said. ”And then we end up scoring,and I go up to him. I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me, so, I mean, it is indeed what it is.”
The video shows the two players coming together and pushing each other before an official intervenes. As the official approaches, St. brown appears to throw a right hand that connects with Payne’s helmet.Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw stated he believed Payne was retaliating for the initial strike,claiming an official “literally saw the first punch” but did not penalize St. Brown.
