Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis defended linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Wednesday, saying he is unnecessarily scrutinized because of his past record of illegal hits.
Burfict was reportedly fined for stomping on LeGarrette Blount during Sunday’s game against New England, and Lewis thinks Burfict is held to a different, unfair standard.
“I don’t think he did anything wrong,” Lewis said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “We were not in the wrong here, in my opinion. And it’s unfortunate. That’s what I have told and stood on and will continue to.
“I don’t think he meant to do anything. And I’ve been through it back and forth as big as this board behind me. Hell if I can see who steps where or whatever. I see him try to step through [the pile] and try to go help [a] teammate. … Someone from another team has a hand on his teammate’s face mask, pushing him in the face, and that’s what he’s trying to get to. But that doesn’t matter — it’s done. We’ll move on and things will happen the way they happen.”
You can see the incident in question here and make your own judgment. Burfict does have a reputation, though. He’s going to have to learn to deal with that, and so will Lewis.
