Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict fined for QB hit, unnecessary roughness

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Friday, December 18, 2015

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was fined after all Thursday for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Burfict's agent, Audie Attar, told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Burfict also was fined for unnecessary roughness on two additional plays for a total ofjust under $70,000 for the three infractions, a source told Schefter.

Burfict is appealing the fines.

Attar had said Wednesday that Burfict would not be fined for his controversial hit on Roethlisberger.

It appeared to many that Burfict dove for Roethlisberger's ankles after Roethlisberger released a pass during the first half of the Steelers' 33-20 win Sunday in Cincinnati. Burfict said he was pushed into Roethlisberger while he was attempting a pass rush.

"I don't buy he was pushed," Roethlisberger said during an appearance on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday. "I think he was definitely diving low for my legs."

Asked to comment on Roethlisberger's claim, Burfict told ESPN on Wednesday: "It's football."

Burfict has a history of serious disciplinary issues for his play on the field. He previously was fined a total of $77,000 for four incidents, including a $25,000 fine last season for deliberately twisting the ankles of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Coley Harvey contributed to this report.

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