Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday that he doesn’t believe linebacker Vontaze Burfict did anything to merit the $75,000 fine handed down by the NFL for his actions in Sunday’s 35-17 loss to the New England Patriots.
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams, however, disagrees, and said he believes the league should have been harsher in punishing Burfict. The linebacker has been suspended for three games and fined multiple times for violations of player safety rules.
Lewis stated he believes these rules were the reason for the fine, as opposed to Burfict intentionally stomping on Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount.
Williams called out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his hypocrisy on Twitter Wednesday afternoon:
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It’s difficult to dispute the logic in Williams’ argument. If safety is the NFL’s top priority, and a player who is a repeat offender continually goes out of his way to intentionally jeopardize other players’ safety, why not kick that player off the field?
Williams then replied to a Twitter user who repeated Lewis’ opinion that Burfict was fined due to his past actions as opposed to his present one by calling the linebacker a “danger to the game.”
This is not the first time Williams has shared a negative opinion on Burfict on social media. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Burfict will actually respond this time.
The Steelers and the Bengals will face off in Week 15, so we will have to wait until then to see how much tension there is between the two players on the field.
The Bengals (2-4) will next host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, while the Steelers (4-2) will host the Patriots on Sunday, after coming off a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 02: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field on October 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
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