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Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne has been suspended after punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during a contentious on-field tussle. During the second quarter of the game between the Commanders and Lions on Sunday, November 9, Payne, 28, hit St. Brown, 26, across the jaw after Detroit scored their third touchdown of the game, resulting in Payne’s ejection. The Lions went on to win 44-22. The National Football League announced Payne has been suspended without pay for one game on Monday, November 10. Payne’s punch violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” including “throwing a punch, or a forearm,” the league explained in their ruling. The lineman’s actions also violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 14(d), which prohibits “striking, swinging at, or clubbing the head or neck of an opponent with the wrist(s), arm(s), elbow(s), or hand(s).” Payne will not be eligible to play in the Commanders’ game on Sunday, November 16, when they travel to Madrid, Spain to play the Miami Dolphins. He can officially return to the lineup after the Commanders’ bye week on Sunday, November 30, when Washington hosts the Denver Broncos. Payne is eligible to appeal the suspension, if he wishes. After the game, the Commanders argued that there was more to the story. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw said that St. Brown had punched Payne first and accused the officials of turning a blind eye. “”It’s some bulls***. 100 percent,” Kinlaw, 28, told reporters. “Daron retaliated. The refs literally saw the first punch. I don’t blame him for the way he reacted. Tempers got to flaring.” St. Brown acknowledged that he and Payne “got into a little scuffle, back and forth” two plays before the punch. “Then we end up scoring and I go up to him,” St. Brown told reporters after the game. “I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me.” Commanders safety Quan Martin also took issue with the officiating, arguing that an unsportsmanlike penalty called on him during the second quarter was without merit. “I’m not sure why I was flagged,” Martin, 25, said. “I was pulled to the ground, kicked in the nuts and it was a flag on me. You could tell I was upset from being kicked in the nuts, intentionally, right in front of the refs.” Controversy aside, the win helped right the Lions’ ship after their offense fell flat in a 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on November 2. In response, Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over the play calling during the game against the Commanders. “I think it’s knowing when to go and when to pull and push and pull and push and pull,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said after the game about working in step with Campbell. “To be honest, it’s one of his best traits as a leader, across leadership and play calling. Knowing, kind of, when the shot feels right and when the run feels right and when to switch the run and when to do that. It’s really hard and I think it’s a lot of feel, it really is just a lot of feel. You can’t really teach it, you can’t really learn it and he did a great job with that.” The Lions return to action on Sunday, November 16, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
