Alabama's Mekhi Brown punches opponent, then confronts staff member on sideline

Tom Gatto

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Alabama's Mekhi Brown punches opponent, then confronts staff member on sideline image

Alabama linebacker Mekhi Brown had to be restrained by teammates and coaches as he confronted a member of his coaching staff on the sideline during Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game.

Brown, a sophomore, had just been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on a kickoff. Brown was then shown yelling at a staff member before attempting to physically engage him.

LIVE BLOG: Alabama takes on Georgia in all-SEC matchup

Alabama was trailing Georgia 20-10 at the time of the penalty and confrontation.

Brown's actions cost him playing time: He later clotheslined a Georgia returner on a Bulldogs kickoff return.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.