It won’t be long until we find out whether or not Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will be fined for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger below the knees in Sunday’s game. However, according to Ed Werder of ESPN, the league is aware of the low hit and they’re currently reviewing it for potential discipline.
According to Roethlisberger during a Tuesday morning interview, Burfict claimed that he was pushed into the quarterback’s lower legs but the tape clearly shows otherwise. Werder goes on to report that the “Steelers feel fortunate Roethlisberger didn’t suffer major injury.” He also adds that Burfict has been fined four times already during his career for illegal hits.
During his Tuesday press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked if he’s concerned about the several low hits that took place on Sunday and especially the one on Roethlisberger.
“Not my job at this juncture, I’m looking ahead to Denver,” said Tomlin. “I imagine that the league office is doing their due diligence in terms of dealing with things such as that. I generally turn the page and move forward.”
Based on the evidence, it will be a travesty if Burfict isn’t fined for his low hit on Roethlisberger. However, if he isn’t, none of us will be shocked as the league certainly has turned their collective heads in the past when it comes to hits on the Steelers quarterback.
A few weeks ago, Roethlisberger was hit helmet to facemask by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and while he was flagged on the play, he reportedly wasn’t fined for his actions.
