Vontaze Burfict’s hit on Ben Roethlisberger on Saturday night — at first glance — appeared to be about the only clean hit he had all night. Upon further review, however, maybe not so much.
The Cincinnati Bengals linebacker is in hot water for the way he handled himself on the field Saturday night in the Bengals’ AFC Wild Card Game loss to Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Burfict’s cheap shot on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is getting all the publicity, but you might want to take another look at the hit that reportedly left Roethlisberger with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.
Although violent, the hit appeared to be clean. But an up-close, slowed-down replay certainly appears to show Burfict ramming his knee into Roethlisberger’s shoulder as the Bengals linebacker pulled himself up off the ground.
Burfict is already facing a suspension for the Brown hit, according to reports. Given his history (Burfict leads the league in unnecessary roughness penalties since joining the league), it’s tough to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one, either.
H/t to Pro Football Talk
Thumbnail photo via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Images
