Roethlisberger not treated Equal

[RobinCole]

Windy: The unwritten rule was in effect before Milledgeville.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I still don't like Bart Scott but this is funny nonetheless:

"The toughest thing about Tom Brady is his chin – because it has the dimple in it, which is a characteristic of most superheroes.”

[Jooser]

No fine for Burfict, Bennett, or Barron for illegal hits on Ben. This is about more than just not throwing flags.

Must be the "B" factor then, that was easy...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Must be the "B" factor then, that was easy...

We should write a children's book.

Ben likes playing ball with Brown, Bryant, and Bell.

Ben doesn't like playing ball with Burfict, Bennett, or Barron.

Go, Ben, Go!

[fordfixer]

[url]https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/677656290273984513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[/url]

Adam Schefter Verified account 
@AdamSchefter Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict actually fined for Three plays Sunday, per source: Two unnecessary roughnesses and one hit on Ben Roethlisberger

[fordfixer]

[url]http://www.cincyjungle.com/fines-suspensions/2015/12/17/10468182/after-further-review-bengals-linebacker-vontaze-burfict-will-be-fined[/url]

After further review, Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will be fined for hit on Big Ben

By Anthony Cosenza  @CJAnthonyCUI on Dec 17, 2015, 9:05p 19



There has been a lot of hubbub surrounding a hit the Pro Bowl linebacker made on the Steelers quarterback last Sunday, with initial reports stating he wasn't going to get fined. A later report on Thursday evening said otherwise.


To say the rematch between the Bengals and Steelers last Sunday was chippy, would be an understatement. A pre-game shoving match spring-boarded from a month-long war of words between the teams, with other big hits and after-the-whistle antics littered the game film.

In the middle of all the issues was Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Whether it was the receiving of a Twitter threat and following it up with some jawing to help instigate the initial on-field argument, returning some big hits or diving at the lower extremities of Ben Roethlisberger, Burfict made sure he wasn't going to back down from anything Pittsburgh was giving him.

Earlier this week, Burfict's agent, publicly stated that the former Pro Bowl linebacker was not going to be fined by the NFL for a particular hit on Big Ben. The issue was pressed to the league by Roethlisberger, who didn't buy Burfict's excuse that he was pushed, forcing the questionable hit. One source with the Steelers team said: "Dirty play, dirty player."


Some might say the intent was there given the bad blood between the teams, while others will note at the end of the clip Burfict's gesture to Roethlisberger almost showing immediate concern. Propelling the whole issue was Burfict being the tackler on Le'Veon Ball in the first match-up in a hit that ended the star running back's season.

As it turns out, Burfict will be fined for a currently-undisclosed amount, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. He got the inside information from Burfict's agent, Audie Attar. Burfict is appealing the decision, likely making the amount he'll be fined open information if his appeal isn't granted.



Given the league getting a little bit of heat for not properly controlling the angry situation between the teams by not clamping down on some of the verbal shots fired by Steelers players before the Week 14 game, it seems unlikely they'll grant Burfict's appeal as a too-late effort to get a grasp on the rivalry. Of course, it's yet to be determined. Another issue standing in the way of Burfict winning the appeal is a track record of being accused for more hits like these, including an infamous ankle twist of Cam Newton last season.

It's just another chapter in a long-storied rivalry that has been fueled over the past decade. It's possible the two teams will meet again in this year's playoffs, so it will be interesting to see if the antics continue should a third showdown comes to pass. For now, Burfict will be dealing with this situation, while the team heals up and preps itself for solid postseason seeding

Well it's about time

[fordfixer]

Vontaze Burfict Fined for Hit on Ben Roethlisberger: Comments and Reaction
[URL]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600228-vontaze-burfict-fined-for-hit-on-ben-roethlisberger-comments-and-reaction?utm_campaign=tsiphone&utm_medium=referral &utm_source=facebook.com[/URL]

By Adam Wells , Featured Columnist
Dec 17, 2015


Vontaze Burfict Fined for Hit on Ben Roethlisberger: Comments and Reaction

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press




Contrary to a report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been fined by the NFL in part for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Week 14.



The total fine money for the three hits is "close" to $70K, per Rapoport, who added Burfict is appealing the fines.

Burfict's punishment comes one day after Attar told Coley Harvey of ESPN.com his client would not be fined by the NFL.

"According to Attar, the league saw what Burfict had been alleging: that he was pushed into the quarterback while he was attempting a pass rush," Harvey wrote.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers were angry with Burfict for what they believed to be a blatant attempt to attack the star quarterback's ankles with a low hit in the first half of Pittsburgh's 33-20 victory.

During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh (via Harvey), Roethlisberger said he doesn't buy Burfict's excuse that "he was pushed" into him.

It wasn't the only incident involving Burfict and the Steelers on Sunday, as there was a pregame skirmish involving the Bengals star as well.

Burfict does have a history of attacking quarterbacks' legs, as he received a $25,000 fine last year for twisting Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen's ankles.

The Bengals can't afford for Burfict to cause problems that may jeopardize his playing status, especially with uncertainty around quarterback Andy Dalton's return from a broken thumb that he suffered in the same game, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Defense will have to carry Cincinnati as long as Dalton is on the sidelines. Burfict is one of the team's best players, and the Bengals are fortunate the NFL chose to only fine him, given his history

Close to 70,000 ? Not enough

[fordfixer]

Esiason: NFL should've suspended Burfict two games for hit on Big Ben

[url]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25419122/esiason-nfl-shouldve-suspended-burfict-two-games-for-hit-on-big-ben[/url]


By John Breech | CBSSports.com

December 18, 2015 5:47 pm ET


The NFL went tough on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict this week; however, Boomer Esiason doesn't think the league went tough enough.

The former Bengals quarterback told The Jim Rome Show on Friday that Burfict should've been suspended on top of the almost $70,000 in fines he received.

The Bengals linebacker was fined a total of $69,454 for three separate infractions he made during Sunday's 33-20 loss to the Steelers. One of the plays that cost Burfict was a low hit on Ben Roethlisberger.




The hit on Big Ben alone should've drawn a suspension, according to Esiason, who you can see every Sunday on The NFL Today on CBS.

"I didn't see the other two [Burfict infractions], but I did see the one in which he dove to the back of Ben Roethlisberger's legs. My own personal opinion is that Vontaze Burfict should be suspended for at least two games," Esiason said. "This guy has a history, there are issues with him. One of the reasons why he fell in the draft was because teams knew there was going to be issues with him, and when you do that on the field of play, where you legitimately try to hurt an opposing teams quarterback, and you know I'm a former Cincinnati Bengal, but that doesn't mean I'm asking for guys to do stupid things on the field to hurt another player."



That "history" Esiason's referring to includes last season, when Burfict was fined $25,000 for twisting the ankles of Greg Olsen and Cam Newton during a Bengals game against Carolina.

After that game, Olsen said the same thing that Esiason's saying now: Burfict should be suspended.

There was also an incident this season. Steelers players got mad at Burfict in Week 8 because they thought the Bengals linebacker was celebrating after Le'Veon Bell got injured. That spat boiled over to the Week 14 rematch: The two teams were involved in a pregame scuffle on Sunday.

There's some bad blood between the two sides, which is why both Esiason and Roethlisberger believe that Burfict's low hit on Ben was intentional.

"No way. No way. No," Esiason said, when asked if he thought Burfict was pushed into Roethlisberger.

Big Ben had a similar reaction earlier this week.

"I don't buy that he was pushed," Roethlisberger said. "He definitely was diving in low and going for my legs. It's tough. I am just glad I didn't get hurt."

Burfict wasn't flagged on the play, but he was hit with the huge fine.

Roethlisberger and Burfict could meet again this year if the Bengals and Steelers meet in the playoffs, which could easily happen in the wild-card round if the Steelers earn the No. 6 spot in the AFC and the Bengals earn the No. 3 spot.

For once I agree with Boomer.