'He Too Should Be Suspended…': Robert Griffin III Calls for NFL to Assess Potential Punishment for Amon-Ra St. Brown
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III urged the league to review whether Detroit Lions receiver Amon‑Ra St. Brown should face discipline after Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne was suspended for striking him. Griffin’s call came amid circulating video and competing accounts of an on‑field altercation that has drawn widespread attention.
The incident unfolded in the second quarter of Detroit’s 44‑22 victory as players jostled after a touchdown. Payne was ejected immediately for throwing a punch to St. Brown’s head and the league announced a one‑game suspension on Monday. Washington players disputed the league’s ruling, releasing footage that they say shows St. Brown initiating contact earlier in the sequence.
Sep 7, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Griffin posted on social media that if St. Brown did strike Payne first, he should be held to the same standard and face appropriate discipline. The former quarterback’s comments amplified debate about consistency in on‑field discipline and whether all relevant evidence had been considered before the suspension was imposed. Fans and pundits quickly weighed in, with opinions split over who provoked the confrontation.
League sources say appeals are possible and that the league reviews additional footage and reports when assessing punishments. Commanders staff and some teammates argued the initial ejection and suspension failed to reflect the full context, while the Lions maintained that their receiver did not escalate the situation. Independent clips posted online show different angles, but none conclusively depict the exchange that precipitated Payne’s retaliatory action.
Robert Griffin III Says NFL Should Review Potential Punishment for Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown
Sep 25, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; ESPN commentator Robert Griffin III on the field prior to the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Griffin has called on the league to check how it should punish St. Brown for his actions during a game against the Commanders. This can be seen in a post shared by the sports analyst on his official X account.
The episode adds strain to a Commanders season already marked by injuries and instability, while the Lions move on with a resurgent offense. For Payne, the suspension means missing the team’s Week 11 game in Madrid unless an appeal is successful. For St. Brown, scrutiny intensified as analysts and former players examined whether his actions warranted league review.
Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) practices before the game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
The controversy raises broader questions about how the NFL polices player conduct during heated moments and how quickly disciplinary decisions are made in high‑stakes games. The league will likely face renewed calls for transparency as teams, players and the public await any further findings or penalties.
Broncos Rookie RJ Harvey Makes Franchise History in Win Over Texans
The Denver Broncos flipped the script on draft experts when they took cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft — a spot they seemed destined to fill pressing needs at running back or tight end.
While the Broncos got their running back one round later with UCF’s RJ Harvey in the second round )No. 60 overall), it’s turning out to be a better fit than they could have gotten with anyone else, regardless of the round.
The latest evidence was in an 18-15 win over the Houston Texans in Week 8 where Harvey’s 27-yard touchdown reception made him the first rookie in Broncos history with a touchdown catch in 3 consecutive games.
Harvey led the Broncos with 5 receptions for 51 yards against the Texans as the Broncos rallied in the fourth quarter. It was their sixth consecutive win to improve to 7-2.
After having one of the NFL’s worst rushing attacks in 2024, the Broncos now have one of the best with a 1-2 punch of Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins, although Harvey is still serving something of an apprenticeship.
“RJ Harvey does something insanely cool almost every time he touches the ball,” NFL Network’s Michael Florio wrote on his official X account. “His flaw? Sean Payton hardly lets him touch the ball.”
Trio of Talented AFC West Rookie RBs
Harvey is one of a trio of talented AFC West rookie running backs along with a pair of first round picks in Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty and Los Angeles Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton.
While Harvey is the only one of the 3 who isn’t the featured back for his team as a rookie, he also leads the group with 6 total touchdowns and has 371 yards of total offense. Through Week 9, his 6 touchdowns are the second most for any rookie behind New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo’s 7 touchdowns.
That’s not too bad when we consider Dobbins leads the Broncos with 634 rushing yards and is on pace to be the first Denver player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season since Phillip Lindsay in 2019.
Broncos Purged Running Backs From 2024
The Broncos didn’t lift a finger to try and bring back last year’s starting running back Javonte Williams, letting him leave to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency on a 1-year, $3 million contract.
Williams led almost a complete purge of last year’s running backs from the roster, including 2024 seventh round pick Audric Estime, who was cut by the Broncos on August 26 and has spent time on the practice squads for the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.
While Dobbins has been a pleasant surprise on a 1-year, $2.065 million free agent contract, Harvey seems like the future of Denver’s backfield.
Harvey signed a 4-year, $7.35 million rookie contract.
“After conducting a deep dive for information, watching hours of game film and crunching the numbers, the Denver Broncos concluded that UCF’s RJ Harvey was the best running back not named Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL draft,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on May 7. “So when (the Broncos) were ready to make their second-round pick (No. 60 overall) on Day 2 of the draft, the decision was easy.”
