The Pittsburgh Steelers will be getting reacquainted with Vontaze Burfict this weekend for the first time since he nearly decapitated Antonio Brown in a playoff game last year, and it is natural to wonder if revenge is in order.
Burfict has a long history of dirty play, and much of it has come when facing the Steelers. Pittsburgh offensive lineman Ramon Foster knows all about Burfict’s reputation, and he implied on Monday that his team is ready for whatever comes.
“We’ll deal with him whenever it gets to that,” Foster said, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They have enough sound bites from this past game.”
Burfict did not face the Steelers in Week 2, as he was suspended for the hit on Brown (video here) and several other cheap shots. Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert did not mention Burfict by name, but he said his teammates need to be prepared to have each other’s backs.
“Of course, we have to protect each other,” Gilbert said. “You can’t be cautious. You have to play full speed. If you’re out there wondering what other people are doing you’re going to end up getting yourself hurt or get somebody else hurt. You just go out there and play football.”
Ben Roethlisberger said earlier in the season that the Steelers were not interested in retaliation against Cincinnati, and that will likely be the case again on Sunday. Although Big Ben made it clear he believes Burfict tried to take out his knee on this play last season, Pittsburgh is fighting for a playoff spot and cannot afford to get dragged into the Bengals’ undisciplined style.
