Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin isn’t holding back when it comes to his opinion of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster — or the fight that got Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch suspended. Appearing on The Club 520 Podcast, Franklin passionately defended Branch, who lost his appeal of a one-game suspension for punching Smith-Schuster following the Lions’ Week 6 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night.
“JuJu needed his ass whooped,” Franklin said. “Let’s just go there … He’s been needing his ass whooped for a minute. Brian Branch is doing the work of the Lord.”
Branch’s punch at the end of the game set off a brief scuffle between players from both teams. Lions coach Dan Campbell criticized Branch’s actions, and the second-year safety admitted he acted “childish” after feeling provoked throughout the game.
Franklin, however, saw no reason to condemn Branch. Instead, he turned his attention to Smith-Schuster, saying the veteran receiver’s antics on the field have rubbed players the wrong way for years.
“[Smith-Schuster’s] an asshole, bro,” Franklin said. “This is my thing, I’m gonna talk greasy to you. We gonna go right up. And when we get that one-on-one, I ain’t gonna duck the smoke. So if I win or lose, it is what it is. He the type that’s gonna do all the little weird, sneaky stuff, push you behind the back, go run to the ref … then try to be cool with you after.”
Franklin also couldn’t resist clowning Smith-Schuster for how he looked after the altercation, referencing photos that circulated online showing the wideout with a bloodied nose.
“Bro, you can’t be crying with your nose (bloody). You got kids, bro,” Franklin said. “Like, what’s going to happen with your son? C’mon, bro. … I really be feeling like, bro, I can’t let y’all — my son in the stands, I can’t let you put your hands on me. My girl watching. She might like you now after this. Like, what, I’m going to tell my girl when I come home I just got my ass whooped on Sunday night.”
Branch’s suspension will keep him out of Detroit’s Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, costing him a game check and leaving the Lions without one of their most physical defenders.
As for Franklin and Smith-Schuster, their next meeting might come sooner rather than later. The Colts are scheduled to visit the Chiefs in Week 12 — a matchup that suddenly carries more intrigue than anyone expected. After Franklin’s comments, that November game might also carry some bad blood.
