Did Vontaze Burfict Commit a Questionable Play on Cam Newton?

The biggest storyline to emerge from the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Carolina Panthers game, obviously, was that it ended in a 37-37 tie.

The back-and-forth shootout between these two teams made for arguably the most entertaining contest of Week 6. Lost in all of that high-scoring hoopla was what appeared to be a questionable play by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

With four minutes and one second left in the third quarter, Newton followed his blockers and ran for an impressive 12-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 24-17. Plodding his way through Bengals defenders, Newton was tackled into the end zone by Burfict and cornerback Terence Newman.

Clearly in the end zone, Burfict seemed to wrench Newton's surgically repaired ankle after the play. While the tape doesn't paint Burfict in a flattering way, it's impossible to determine if a player's actions are intentional or not.

Luckily, Newton wasn't hurt, and he was able to finish the game and finish it well. Regardless, that doesn't prevent us from asking questions about the apparent ankle grab.

NFL network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala tweeted just 20 minutes into the game that Burfict had already been flagged twice for unnecessary roughness:

Panthers kicker Graham Gano was furious after seeing Burfict's actions, and he took the social media route to voice his displeasure:

We all get the fact that sometimes you can get caught up in the moment trying to make a clean play, but Burfict has a history of committing penalties.

In 2013, Burfict was fantastic in all facets, except when it came to penalties. According to Pro Football Focus' (subscription required) data, the negative-5.4 grade he received in that department ranked him worst in the NFL among eligible 4-3 outside linebackers.

Burfict's spotty history and the video evidence we have are compelling enough to suggest the apparent ankle twist on Newton was questionable. Is it enough to warrant a fine or possibly even a suspension? The league will have to sort that out when it watches the tape later on this week.

Unless noted otherwise, all game scores and information come courtesy of ESPN.com.