BREAKING: Louis Riddick Addresses Brian Branch Video Backlash — But Stops Short of an Apology
The fallout from the Brian Branch–NFL Films controversy continued Friday as Louis Riddick finally broke his silence. The longtime ESPN analyst and narrator of NFL Turning Point issued a public statement regarding the now-deleted video that took aim at the
In his statement, Riddick emphasized that he holds deep respect for the Lions and insisted there was
“The Detroit Lions organization is one that I have nothing but respect for,” Riddick said. “Ownership, Head Coach, General Manager, and players. Fast forward to this week, the “Turning Point” episode that was voiced by me recently that covered the Chiefs/Lions game didn’t come across the way it should have.”
Riddick explained that the show’s goal is to tell the full story of a game, “good and bad”, and that the short clip promoting the full episode was misleading in isolation.
“The intent is to collaboratively, as a group, document the events of game. Good and bad. There is NEVER an intent to do a “hit piece” on anyone or any team. That being said, I can see how the short clip that was posted could be taken as an attempt to cast the #Lions or Brian Branch in a calculated, unfavorable manner. I don’t want to be a part of that. I will be sure to make certain that anything that has my name attached to it will never again leave room for it to be interpreted that way in the future.”
While Riddick’s statement attempts to clarify intent, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t include any direct apology to Branch, Dan Campbell, or the Detroit Lions organization.
A Measured Response, But Not an Apology
Riddick’s comments come after NFL Films deleted the clip and issued its own statement on Thursday, claiming the short excerpt “felt overly critical” of Branch and the Lions when viewed outside of the full nine-minute episode.
However, the damage was already done. The video, narrated by Riddick, framed Branch’s performance and postgame behavior in a way that many fans and players felt was unfair, even mocking.
Now, Riddick’s statement seems to be an effort to distance himself from the controversy, without fully taking ownership of the fallout.
The Bottom Line
Louis Riddick says there was no intent to unfairly target
And while Riddick’s statement checked all the boxes of professionalism and restraint, it left out the one thing Lions fans were waiting for: a simple “I’m sorry.”
Raiders might just have the next Daniel Jones sitting on their bench
Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and now, Daniel Jones. The NFL quarterback reclamation project is shifting from a mere fad to a trend that teams will no doubt look to replicate in the coming years.
Former draft "busts" are thriving in better environments, making their new general managers look like geniuses in the process. Finding low-cost passers capable of leading a functional offense is one of the most direct paths to contention, so these gambles aren't going away any time soon.
This season, Jones has taken the league by storm in a way that nobody expected. His Indianapolis Colts are blowing preseason projections out of the water, riding an efficient offense to the top of the league standings.
While the former New York Giants' flameout still has some of the limitations that hindered him at his previous stop, the coaching staff in Indiana has been able to support him in a way that allows him to thrive.
Believe it or not, the Las Vegas Raiders already have one of the top candidates for the next comeback quarterback on their roster. As crazy as it may sound, Kenny Pickett has a real chance to become the next Daniel Jones.
Raiders' QB Kenny Pickett could become the next Daniel Jones
At first glance, this notion seems impossible. Pickett has bounced around multiple NFL rosters over the last year, seemingly unable to prove himself capable of contributing in the league. His time with the Pittsburgh Steelers was inconsistent at best, and they've generally looked better since moving on from him.
But consider that, just last season, Jones was playing safety on the Giants' practice squad. Mayfield and Darnold found themselves in similar situations, so a player's situation can change rapidly in the NFL.
Now, Pickett does have some important limitations that the revitalized quarterbacks of recent years don't all share. His undersized hands and mediocre arm talent lead to accuracy issues and offensive constraints that can't necessarily be fixed.
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His processing ability, though, is good enough to succeed in the right system. He's far from being the most talented quarterback in the league, but he may be able to reach Daniel Jones' levels of production if he has enough support around him.
If he gets another chance to prove himself, it may not come with the Raiders. While Geno Smith has been disappointing this season, it seems more likely that the team would opt to draft his successor than promote Pickett into a starting role.
However, if Pickett does end up saving his career with a new team, Raiders fans will be stuck wondering what could have been, just like so many NFL teams in recent years.
