Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict fined for Ben Roethlisberger hit

The NFL is fining Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for his low hit on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday.

The NFL is fining Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for his low hit on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday, as well as for two additional instances of unnecessary roughness, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Burfict plans to appeal the fines, which amount to almost $70,000, Schefter reports.

Burfict was not penalized during the game for apparently diving at Roethlisberger’s ankles. His agent, Audie Attar, said Wednesday that Burfict would not be fined because the NFL believed his story that another player had pushed him into Roethlisberger.

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Roethlisberger said earlier this week that he thought the hit was intentional.

“I don't buy that he was pushed,” Roethlisberger​ said on 93.7 The Fan. “I think he was definitely diving low for my legs.”

This set of fines will bring Burfict’s total for financial penalties to $147,000 over five separate incidents.

- Erin Flynn