I mean, you knew this. Even before Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict went headhunting on Antonio Brown, helping to cost Cincinnati the game, he was the guy who slapped another player in the balls, the guy who tried to twist two opponents’ ankles, the guy who in the regular season put Le’Veon Bell out for the year and dove at Ben Roethlisberger’s ankles. But here, have some more evidence.
Burfict’s sack of Roethlisberger that put the Steelers QB temporarily out of Saturday’s wild-card game (and made him unable to throw the ball more than five yards when he returned) looked at first glance clean; Roethlisberger hit the turf at a weird angle, directly on his shoulder, with Burfict landing hard atop him. That was until you see this angle, showing Burfict getting in a knee to Roethlisberger’s shoulder long after the play was dead:
Burfict’s actions on Saturday led Ravens guard John Urschel to share video of this hit, which went unnoticed, from Week 17.
Burfict is reportedly facing a suspension for the hit on Antonio Brown, and as a repeat offender, it could be for more than one game.
Both Roethlisberger, who said his shoulder is “sore” and is day-to-day, and Brown, who entered the concussion protocol, are expected to play next weekend at Denver. Whether either is anywhere close to 100 percent is another question. The Bengals are out but Burfict’s impact may continue to be felt into the divisional round.