Daron Payne Facing Suspension for Punching Amon-Ra St. Brown

The NFL has suspended Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne for one game after he punched Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during Sunday’s matchup. Payne was ejected in the second quarter of the Commanders’ 44-22 loss to the Lions, marking the first ejection of his eight-year career. The incident unfolded shortly after Detroit scored its third touchdown of the first half, when Payne delivered a right-handed punch to St. Brown following a heated verbal exchange between the two players.

Payne’s ejection was only the beginning of the turmoil, as defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw also found himself in hot water on the very next play. Frustrated with the officiating, Kinlaw pushed a referee, leading to further disciplinary action. He expressed his displeasure after the game, claiming that St. Brown threw the first punch without any immediate repercussions. However, Kinlaw acknowledged that making contact with an official is unacceptable and comes with consequences.

As a result, the NFL fined Kinlaw $28,555 for the altercation with the referee. Additionally, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has also been fined $12,172 for unnecessary roughness against Payne, according to NFL Network sources. The 26-year-old receiver’s fine underscores the league’s commitment to penalizing on-field violence, regardless of who initiates the incident.

Unfortunately, these things happen when playing a high-speed, violent, and intense sport like football at the highest level. Emotions boil over, and it’s up to these men to keep them in check regardless of the initial perpetrator. Now these players will have to deal with the repercussions, and in Payne’s case, his team will have to serve without him.