Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s career is likely to be defined largely by his illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and subsequent interactions with the Steelers during their playoff game this past January.
While the hit is likely to cost him at least three games according to some reports, one of Brown’s teammates, DeAngelo Williams has a rather unique take on the whole thing.
Instead of focusing on what it will cost him individually, Williams points out the hit cost the Steelers way more than a three-game suspension in the long haul. See, he believes that had Brown been healthy his team would’ve had a much better chance of winning its divisional round matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
“For me, my rival throughout my year will be the Cincinnati Bengals,” Williams told ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday. “I don’t think there was any doubt in my mind if AB was not interfered on or hit the way he was hit, however you want to label it—there’s no doubt we go on and give the Broncos hell.”
Naturally, Burfict didn’t take to kindly to those words once he heard them and the two got in to a very NSFW conversation…so if you don’t want to see foul language STOP READING NOW.
That comment was then taken in to the stratosphere by Burfict, who decided to threaten physical violence…you know, because that’s the smart thing to do while facing suspension by the league.
https://twitter.com/King55Tez/status/717851651663663105
While there is plenty of speculation involved in Williams assertion of beating the Broncos in the next round with a healthy Brown, what isn’t debatable is that the team may not have been in the game at all if it weren’t for Burfict’s hit and the Bengals’ meltdown after his 15-yard penalty.
Let’s remember that Adam “Pacman” Jones also got a 15-yard penalty for taunting Brown on the play. That moved the ball up 30 yards on one play with the clock ticking down.
Instead of having the ball on its own 48-yard line with 18 seconds left, the Steelers got the ball in easy field goal range and knocked home the game-winning field goal — all after their attempted drive was sputtering out without much hope of getting beyond midfield.
So, the Steelers move on because of Burfict’s idiocy and these two AFC North division rivals leave it all to be settled on the field…but, until then it appears Twitter will be their gridiron.