Watch: Vontaze Burfict delivers controversial hit to Antonio Brown
Controversial Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has injected himself into the team’s rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers once again.
Burfict came in late with what looked to be a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown when the receiver already appeared wrapped up.
#Bengals dirty LB Vontaze Burfict, who is just coming off a suspension, with a late hit to @AB84 Antonio Brown's helmet. pic.twitter.com/QSiCg79IQf
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 14, 2018
A reverse angle actually demonstrated that Burfict looked like he got more of teammate Jessie Bates with his helmet than he did Brown.
THIS IS AN ATTACK ON A GUY'S HEAD.
HOW DO YOU LET THIS GUY KEEP DOING THIS. (gif via @Benstonium) pic.twitter.com/838MuaDveV
— pat muldowney (@patmuldowney) October 14, 2018
Both Brown and Bates actually left the game, though Brown returned very quickly and Bates came back a bit later.
Burfict has a long history against the Steelers, and Pittsburgh players have pretty clearly demonstrated that they don’t like him either. The hit and the manner of it certainly looked unnecessary and potentially dangerous, but no flag was thrown on the play.