If it's a new rule, fine. I can live with a fine. But 5 games? So I am expecting anytime this rule is broken this year it should at least be 1 game suspension for anyone other than Burfict. If you are giving Burfict 5 games for a new rule violation which again wasn't a dirty hit nor leading with head etc. then any other player who hits any receiver who isn't looking at him should be at least 1 game suspension period.

 

Good thing Hines Ward isn't still playing. He'd be gone for an entire season.

Hines Ward committed this same thing virtually every game just against a defender. If that fullback can be "defenseless" then so can a defender.

Ok. I have read EVERY post on this thread. As someone who has no skin in the game...not a Bengals, or Steelers fan. I'm a lowly Browns fan! So that makes me the biggest idiot out here. It's still football! This stuff happens. My only observation is this , most of the Bengal fans complaining about the hit,and suspension, [ for the record,i think it's too much] lets flip the script on this play,and say that it's Gio Bernard,or Mixon getting thumped. I guarantee you all would be calling foul,and wanting something done. Bottom line.... with Burfict, when your on somebody's radar......you have to be better than about everyone else, or your going to get noticed. He got noticed!!!! And that's a fact!!!

Wow! Arguments about unnecessary leave this oldguy seaching for when this came into any coaches teaching methods. If ball is on the right side of field, you guys on the left don't hustle to make downfield blocks....because they are unnecessary. Don't tackle that guy so hard...unnecessary. Don't try so hard, because less effort will do just fine...unnecessary. There's "no crying in baseball" and no room for "unnecessary" in football. If it is legal, then it should never be subject to suspension. Yes, Vontaze has a rep, but the NFL is way out of line with this suspension. I think it has a lot to do with their longterm positioning and attempting to reduce their liability to brain injury claims. We are losing our game and perhaps we should. But, "unnecessary" is a non-starter in justifying a suspension.

I don't know. Can he decapitate him? How bout clothes line him, or even rip his head around by the face mask. Seeing how none of them happened, why are you making things up?

 

Not making anything up. Describing the exact play that happened, just moving it. In that situation, could he hit him the way he did?

 

Oh, and you're right about Hines Ward. He's part of the reason these rules exist.

Edited August 28, 20179 yr by ManOfTroy

Burfict never knew the ball was in the air, because he was eyeing the FB the whole time waiting to plaster him to the other side of the Potomac. Should have been flagged. He should be sitting for at least 8 games, 5 isnt enough. Its a new rule, its been stressed to death during camp Im sure, he still did it.

The problem is some of you don't like the new rules in the NFL. They're making it soccer, or they're making it touch football. But when your league is under scrutiny for head injuries and you have people all across the country not playing or not letting their kids play because of head injuries, you have to take steps to change. That's why the kickoff rules have changes, the rules on hitting have changed, and they are trying to limit unnecessary hits (like this one). Call it dirty or not, call it bush league or not but like it or not, in TODAY'S league, this is going to be a penalty.

Burfict never knew the ball was in the air, because he was eyeing the FB the whole time waiting to plaster him to the other side of the Potomac. Should have been flagged. He should be sitting for at least 8 games, 5 isnt enough. Its a new rule, its been stressed to death during camp Im sure, he still did it.

 

Lol 8 games? Come on Man! 5 games is absurd as it is.

Lol 8 games? Come on Man! 5 games is absurd as it is.

 

They should ban him for the year!

Wonder what the NFLPA will say and will they back up Burfit?

NFL's take on the hit was that it came from the side and that it was too high.

NFL's take on the hit was that it came from the side and that it was too high.

 

I can buy the "from the side" aspect as part of the new rule. But too high? He hit him in the chest. Where is he supposed to hit someone?

I can buy the "from the side" aspect as part of the new rule. But too high? He hit him in the chest. Where is he supposed to hit someone?

I don't even see the from the side part. Unless they mean you have to be absolutely squared up to someone chest to chest. To me from the side is coming from a 90* angle from the direction the opposing player is running. This was very clearly not the case hear. The NFL botched this one. Plain and simple.

Ok. I have read EVERY post on this thread. As someone who has no skin in the game...not a Bengals' date=' or Steelers fan. I'm a lowly Browns fan! So that makes me the biggest idiot out here. It's still football! This stuff happens. My only observation is this , most of the Bengal fans complaining about the hit,and suspension, [ for the record,i think it's too much'] lets flip the script on this play,and say that it's Gio Bernard,or Mixon getting thumped. I guarantee you all would be calling foul,and wanting something done. Bottom line.... with Burfict, when your on somebody's radar......you have to be better than about everyone else, or your going to get noticed. He got noticed!!!! And that's a fact!!!

Actually you're wrong. I wouldn't be calling for the head of whoever hit Hill or Gio like that for running across the middle. My son plays in college up near Cleveland and his freshman year got his bell rung running across the middle. Neither one of us called for the defenders head as everyone knows the risk when you go across the middle. With that said, what Burfict did was pretty tame compared to what could

have happened.

They should ban him for the year!

Let's just make it a lifetime ban.

 

Coming from a Steelers fan makes it even funnier.

Let's just make it a lifetime ban.

 

Coming from a Steelers fan makes it even funnier.

 

Sounds good to me.