Steelers Rip Vontaze Burfict for Hit on Antonio Brown, Call for Suspension

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not happy with Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

Rinse, wash and repeat. 

Burfict hit Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown near the head with an elbow during Pittsburgh's 28-21 victory Sunday. Brown was evaluated following the hit before he eventually returned.

"That's pathetic. The NFL has to do something about that," right tackle Marcus Gilbert said while suggesting Burfict should be suspended, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "A guy like that, going out there intentionally trying to hurt people, there's no need for that kind of playing in this league. It's sad. One of these days he'll grow up."

Fowler noted Brown called the play a "nasty hit."

The Steelers may get their wish, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the NFL will review three plays involving Burfict, including the one where he elbowed Brown. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noted "Burfict is not expected to be suspended" but could face a fine. 

Guard David DeCastro advocated for protecting Brown and receivers while calling it a "cheap shot," per Fowler:

"It's tough to see AB get hit like that. With all the emphasis on quarterback safety, what about a guy like AB—a superstar he is in this league, how much money he's getting paid, how much he means to this team? A cheap shot like that, I thought was unnecessary. ... If they want to talk about making this game safer, maybe they will do something. Or maybe they will put in a new rule that no one is going to call when it matters. Maybe it's a PR stunt."

The offensive linemen weren't the only ones to voice complaints about Burfict after the game, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, per Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "He hits A.B., then, literally, as I am under center for the next play, he points at JuJu and says, 'You're next.' How do you allow that stuff?"

JuJu Smith-Schuster said, "They were all making threats on me," per Cook.

Brown got the last laugh because he scored the game-winning touchdown after wide receiver Justin Hunter helped clear the way with a borderline illegal block on cornerback Tony McRae. NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron said it wasn't offensive pass interference because McRae was the one who initiated contact within a yard of the line of scrimmage.

This is far from the first time there has been bad blood between Burfict and the Steelers.

He was suspended three games for leveling a head-to-head hit on Brown during a playoff game following the 2015 season, and Fowler said the linebacker "had a hand in injuring the Steelers' three best offensive players—Brown, Le'Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger—with questionable play," in 2015.

Smith-Schuster also crushed Burfict with a blindsided block in a game last season that forced the linebacker to exit the game. The Steelers receiver stood over Burfict after the hit even though he was still on the ground.

The back-and-forth adds even more potential drama to a Week 17 showdown between the AFC North rivals that could carry playoff implications.