2016 NFL Season

[Kingspoint]

If reputation was the reason for Burfict's three game suspension, then the Steelers' organization should be banned for five years. The Saints' were given a death penalty. Nothing happens to the Steelers.

Burfict has a perfectly normal sack of Roethlisberger with nothing about it even bordering on anything illegal or any sign of intent to harm (other than to make the sack), and because the landing is awkward and Roethlisberger gets hurt, all of a sudden it becomes an illegal hit.

It's the same ole manure that has gone on with the Steelers and the NFL for 40 years. The Steelers not only get away with whatever they want, but the NFL encourages them to continue to do it, and when it's not enough, the NFL will make sure they get assistance from the referees whenever possible.

[Bob Sheed]

I'm sorry the Bengals are so persecuted!

It isn't that the Bengals are persecuted. They aren't.

It's more to the point that the Steelers as a franchise are given the Tom Brady treatment. In the case of the Steelers, the NFL has given them this "lunchpail blue collar gritty but not dirty" narrative, and they get away with a disproportionate amount of dirty play as a result.

The Steelers are the Bengals "rival" or whatever you want to call it. So the obvious double standards with the Steelers are more frequent and in the first-person. And when it comes to the cheap shots, for the Bengals, it is a darned if you do-darned if you don't scenario. So if the Steelers, say, break your punter's jaw on a cheap shot, or concuss your star TE on a helmet-to-helmet no-call...well you can either just take it, because you know, it's the "gritty lunchpail Steeler way," or you can dish it right back, in which case you will be "swiftly dealt with by the NFL like the thuggish team you are."

[Kingspoint]

Forte has been told to find new employment.

Doug Martin is hitting free agency.

RGIII passed his exit physical.

Philly police are still gathering evidence and won't issue a warrant on McCoy until next week.

Released G Jahri Evans (wouldn't take a paycut with the purging and cash-strapped Saints) might have to wait until August to find his new starting spot as NFL teams always seem reluctant to sign 33-year old Guards, no matter how good they are.

Mario Williams will be an interesting gamble for some team (Bills will save over $10M against the cap by cutting him), as Ryan was repeatedly accused of misusing him by critics and Williams himself.

For those who haven't heard, Lynch and Megatron are retiring.

[dubc47834]

How many games was James Harrison suspended? How much was he fined?

[redrum]

It isn't that the Bengals are persecuted. They aren't.

It's more to the point that the Steelers as a franchise are given the Tom Brady treatment. In the case of the Steelers, the NFL has given them this "lunchpail blue collar gritty but not dirty" narrative, and they get away with a disproportionate amount of dirty play as a result.

The Steelers are the Bengals "rival" or whatever you want to call it. So the obvious double standards with the Steelers are more frequent and in the first-person. And when it comes to the cheap shots, for the Bengals, it is a darned if you do-darned if you don't scenario. So if the Steelers, say, break your punter's jaw on a cheap shot, or concuss your star TE on a helmet-to-helmet no-call...well you can either just take it, because you know, it's the "gritty lunchpail Steeler way," or you can dish it right back, in which case you will be "swiftly dealt with by the NFL like the thuggish team you are."

Both Steeler players were fined for the plays you mention, so I'm not sure how it is a double standard. It is on the officials for not throwing the flag on the play. There have been calls for Burfict to be suspended since he introduced himself to the league with the shenanigans against the Panthers back in 2013. Frankly I think the NFL offices have been more than patient with him by only doling out fines to this point. If the playoffs weren't looming I think the hit on Maxx Williams would have earned him a suspension.

You can hate the Steelers all you want, and maybe you have every reason to, but how does Burfict blind-siding Williams, twisting Cam's ankle, or hitting a Packer in the groin have to do with the Steelers? That is the player you are defending.

[redrum]

How many games was James Harrison suspended? How much was he fined?

Harrison has been fined plenty, but fewer times in a much longer career than Burfict in his first 3 seasons. Of course that just goes along with the tired narrative that it's only because he played for the Steelers. Harrison was suspended 1 game for a hit on the Browns quarterback some years ago.

Honestly is Burfict worse than Harrison, Porter, Suggs or Ray Lewis in their primes? Probably not, but the NFL is paying much more attention to player saftey than it did 5 years ago.

[redrum]

If reputation was the reason for Burfict's three game suspension, then the Steelers' organization should be banned for five years. The Saints' were given a death penalty. Nothing happens to the Steelers.

Burfict has a perfectly normal sack of Roethlisberger with nothing about it even bordering on anything illegal or any sign of intent to harm (other than to make the sack), and because the landing is awkward and Roethlisberger gets hurt, all of a sudden it becomes an illegal hit.

It's the same ole manure that has gone on with the Steelers and the NFL for 40 years. The Steelers not only get away with whatever they want, but the NFL encourages them to continue to do it, and when it's not enough, the NFL will make sure they get assistance from the referees whenever possible.

Who called the hit on Ben illegal? There is a stupid rule that you are not allowed to wrap your arms around a quarterback when you tackle him - honestly that is the stupidest rule I've ever heard of because how else are you going to tackle a quarterback as big as Ben or Cam - and I remember the announcers reviewing the play on those grounds, but Burfict was not flagged, fined or shamed for that tackle, so I don't know what you are talking about.

There is some video evidence that he brought his knee into Ben's shoulder when he was down, but it was ambiguous enough that nothing came of it - no flag, no fine, no shaming.

He was fined for his hit on Brown. He was suspended for his repeated violations. It really is that simple. It had nothing to do with the Steelers, other than his final infraction happened in that game, and it had everything to do with Burfict. Like I said, if the Bengals weren't in the playoffs he would have most likely been suspended for his week 17 hit on Williams.

[Bob Sheed]

Next season I have a feeling it will be back to the same-old-same-old. The Bengals were put in their place and now understand that they are held to a different standard than the Steelers are, by the NFL.

So the Steelers will lay some dirty helmet to helmet hit again, as usual. And there will be no flag, as usual. And the Bengals players will know. It's just the Steelers being their usual "gritty lunchpail" selves. Not dirty at all. The only thing dirty, would be equal retaliation of any kind whatsoever.

The Bengals have a narrative, so at least they have that. Their narrative is:
either
a) Don't fight back - "They are soft. Just punch em in the mouth and they will fold."
or
b) Fight back - "Bunch of thugs."

So you know... options are nice I guess.

[WrongVerb]

Next season I have a feeling it will be back to the same-old-same-old. The Bengals were put in their place and now understand that they are held to a different standard than the Steelers are, by the NFL.

So the Steelers will lay some dirty helmet to helmet hit again, as usual. And there will be no flag, as usual. And the Bengals players will know. It's just the Steelers being their usual "gritty lunchpail" selves. Not dirty at all. The only thing dirty, would be equal retaliation of any kind whatsoever.

The Bengals have a narrative, so at least they have that. Their narrative is:
either
a) Don't fight back - "They are soft. Just punch em in the mouth and they will fold."
or
b) Fight back - "Bunch of thugs."

So you know... options are nice I guess.

I say fight back and be super dirty about it. If the refs aren't going to control things then the team has to.

[Bob Sheed]

I say fight back and be super dirty about it. If the refs aren't going to control things then the team has to.

That didn't work out very well for the Bengals last time they tried that.

But I agree, matching the Steelers dirtiness, even if it means an avalanche of suspensions and media scrutiny, is still the lesser of two evils.

[Chip R]

So, this Peyton Manning story from 20 years ago is starting to gain some traction.

[bucksfan2]

So, this Peyton Manning story from 20 years ago is starting to gain some traction.

Better watch out, Archie will come after anyone who says one bad thing about one of his boys.

[Slyder]

Better watch out, Archie will come after anyone who says one bad thing about one of his boys.

Looks like she's already been a victim of the Manning Wrath at least twice (after the event in question and again when Manning wrote a book).

[dubc47834]

Looks like she's already been a victim of the Manning Wrath at least twice (after the event in question and again when Manning wrote a book).

Twice she's been paid off!

[Slyder]

Twice she's been paid off!

If you don't mind your career/reputation being ruined.