JuJu Smith-Schuster suspension upheld

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The Steelers will be facing the Ravens on Sunday night without one of their best young players.

Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will miss the home game against Baltimore; the expedited appeal hearing of his one-game suspension has resulted in an affirmation of the banishment, which came both from an illegal block on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict — and from Smith-Schuster standing over Burfict as he was on the ground.

Per multiple reports, the suspension was upheld by hearing officer James Thrash, a former NFL receiver.

A second-round pick from USC, Smith-Schuster has 37 catches for 585 yards and five touchdowns this year. In his absence, Martavis Bryant and Eli Rogers will get more reps and opportunities.

74 responses to “JuJu Smith-Schuster suspension upheld

  1. What complete garbage.

    A borderline football play from a guy with no past history.

    Compare that that’s the same penalty for an after the whistle WWE move from that Neatherthal Gronkowski.

    You’re a complete joke, Goodell.

  2. What complete garbage. Only one game suspension. Listen to the post game interview. Not much concern from him or his chuckling “I’ll pay the fine” team mate. Classy.

  3. All of you Whiners comparing this endlessly to Gronk and how ‘bad’ Gronk is for reacting — Have INFACT never suited up in your life or played competative sports beyond pony leagues.

    Nevermind training competatively for a Salary 70 hours a week with the Best team in the NFL>
    Nevermind being the best and tallest tight end in the game. Getting rough-housed, held, and roughed up in general on every single play getting every teams best shot.

    You people sitting from your couch issue judgement on a guy, and just cant comprehend on how a jacked athelte like that, getting a hand to the chin 30 times a game, after a BS penalty could see red. Just like getting punched in the head, having a chain pulled off mid-game, or your helmet ripped off. YOU know you would never react and these atheltes are in the minority. LOL

    So continue sitting on your computers, announcing ‘well huge pats fan here but hes a dweeb’ ‘well i love the kid but hes wrong’ while you will never understand how mentally and physically tough Gronk is, and what comes mentally sometimes with training and executing like that against other athelets week in and week out. You have no idea. And if you want to continue Griping from your couch about Rob, theres plenty of room in other teams fan bases.

  4. hoosierhandicapper

    See my comment on the last 5 posts regarding this. You were told to stop posting and comparing everything to Gronkowski. Try spending 1/4 of the time he does in a weight room, and have your wife punch you in the chin 25 times.

  5. Gronk’s was worse because it was after the play while JuJu and Iloka were both during a play. Same penalty for all of them though. While JuJu was also penalized for taunting, both him and Iloka were just trying to make a play, JuJu a block, and Iloka trying to knock the ball away from Brown. Gronk dropped an elbow on a guy already on the ground and long after the whistle. Much worse. NFL, thy last name is spelled inconsistency.

  6. If gruden keeps his mouth shut, there’s not even a whisper of a suspension. Total bs that the criteria is the fake moral outrage of someone who just slobbered all over how he’d love to have dirtiest player in the league burfitt on his team. Was a bang bang play, no prior incidents.

  7. Seems fair

    Sure….one was premeditated was not . One was after the whistle and one was not. One was by a 7 year Vet and one was by a rookie…..I guess as a Patriot troll that’s fair but logical people disagree….as usual.

  8. All of you Whiners comparing this endlessly to Gronk and how ‘bad’ Gronk is for reacting — Have INFACT never suited up in your life or played competative sports beyond pony leagues.

    Nevermind training competatively for a Salary 70 hours a week with the Best team in the NFL>
    Nevermind being the best and tallest tight end in the game. Getting rough-housed, held, and roughed up in general on every single play getting every teams best shot.

    You people sitting from your couch issue judgement on a guy, and just cant comprehend on how a jacked athelte like that, getting a hand to the chin 30 times a game, after a BS penalty could see red. Just like getting punched in the head, having a chain pulled off mid-game, or your helmet ripped off. YOU know you would never react and these atheltes are in the minority. LOL

    So continue sitting on your computers, announcing ‘well huge pats fan here but hes a dweeb’ ‘well i love the kid but hes wrong’ while you will never understand how mentally and physically tough Gronk is, and what comes mentally sometimes with training and executing like that against other athelets week in and week out. You have no idea. And if you want to continue Griping from your couch about Rob, theres plenty of room in other teams fan bases.

  9. Alll of you Whiners comparing this endlessly to Gronk and how ‘bad’ Gronk is for reacting — Have INFACT never suited up in your life or played competative sports beyond pony leagues.

    Nevermind training competatively for a Salary 70 hours a week with the Best team in the NFL>
    Nevermind being the best and tallest tight end in the game. Getting rough-housed, held, and roughed up in general on every single play getting every teams best shot.

    You people sitting from your couch issue judgement on a guy, and just cant comprehend on how a jacked athelte like that, getting a hand to the chin 30 times a game, after a BS penalty could see red. Just like getting punched in the head, having a chain pulled off mid-game, or your helmet ripped off. YOU know you would never react and these atheltes are in the minority. LOL

    So continue sitting on your computers, announcing ‘well huge pats fan here but hes a dweeb’ ‘well i love the kid but hes wrong’ while you will never understand how mentally and physically tough Gronk is, and what comes mentally sometimes with training and executing like that against other athelets week in and week out. You have no idea. And if you want to continue Griping from your couch about Rob, theres plenty of room in other teams fan bases.

  10. Tomlin claimed today that he was OK with the dirty hit, but not with the taunting. Dirty hits—OK, taunting—not OK. Way to go Mike.

  11. .
    Pittsburgh – focused on Gronkowski
    Baltimore – focused on Pittsburgh

    Advantage Baltimore
    .

  12. JuJu was already becoming one of my favorite Steelers OF ALL TIME- in less than 8 months since being drafted. Now JuJu going all Hines Ward on Burfict! Steelers still owe Burfict a few. So he better keep his head on a swivel with JuJu around. And the one game suspension, well worth it! And Mike Brown doesn’t own the Bengals, the Steelers do!

  13. After watching the footage multiple times, I don’t believe it was an illegal block nor that he should have been suspended. But it was a nasty game in a string of nasty games between these teams, and JuJu brought negative attention to himself for behaving like an idiot after the hit. I hope this won’t deter him from aggressively blocking–heaven knows Goodell would eliminate all hitting if he could. But I hope it does deter him from behaving like an idiot.

  14. “whodeyneedsgm says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    What complete garbage. Only one game suspension. Listen to the post game interview. Not much concern from him or his chuckling “I’ll pay the fine” team mate. Classy.”

    Liar, if you had paid attention you’d know he specifically apologized after the game. But no, just let your ignorance and hate guide you without facts. Here it is, junior:
    “I don’t have any intentions to hurt anyone when I play football. I didn’t mean to hurt Vontez Burfict, I just wanted to throw a block for my teammate. I apologize for standing over him and that isn’t me. Praying he gets better.”

    Of course we know you won’t admit to being wrong. You will come up with some sort of deflection.

  15. “6ball says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:40 pm
    .
    Pittsburgh – focused on Gronkowski
    Baltimore – focused on Pittsburgh”

    Do you always make up lies? Seriously. The only ones talking about Gronk are Raven fans who are whistling loudly past the graveyard.

  16. mzew233 says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    hoosierhandicapper

    See my comment on the last 5 posts regarding this. You were told to stop posting and comparing everything to Gronkowski. Try spending 1/4 of the time he does in a weight room, and have your wife punch you in the chin 25 times.
    —————————————————————

    Who died and made you Comment Police? Gronk’s transgression was the worst and deserves to be called out as such. The punishment was not relative to the crime.

  17. Hey Roger…still wonder why people are tuning out? Here is one example….Gronk concusses a player with a non football attack that would bring assault charges on the street and gets the same suspension as a player who if he hit 6 inches lower, play on.

  18. fluiddarkness says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:45 pm
    mzew233 says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    hoosierhandicapper

    See my comment on the last 5 posts regarding this. You were told to stop posting and comparing everything to Gronkowski. Try spending 1/4 of the time he does in a weight room, and have your wife punch you in the chin 25 times.
    —————————————————————

    Who died and made you Comment Police? Gronk’s transgression was the worst and deserves to be called out as such. The punishment was not relative to the crime.

    ———-
    Answer: he’s verrry scary internet tough guy troll.

  19. Nofoolnodrool says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:27 pm
    Seems fair

    Sure….one was premeditated was not . One was after the whistle and one was not. One was by a 7 year Vet and one was by a rookie…..I guess as a Patriot troll that’s fair but logical people disagree….as usual.
    ———————-
    Apparently you haven’t seen the play. Ju Ju lined Burfict up and purposely launched at the head. That being said, Ju Ju should be named offensive player of the week for laying that punk out.

  20. Ironically, Burfict drew two 15 yd penalties and a suspension from the Steelers. Of course, other than that he was pretty quiet.

    Hines Ward was on the sidelines for the Steelers and that hit by Ju Ju looked like the one Hines laid on Keith Rivers. Ward is doing the coaching intern program. He likes Ju Ju.

  21. Thats the least of his problems. You know Burfict is going to look to take him out the next time they play…..and he’s just the sort of nut that will actually do it.

  22. Schuster’s play was the same exact play as the Warren Sapp block on Kyle Clifton. Intent to injure was clear, that’s for sure. Maybe a noob can’t see it, and a homer is willing to blind themselves to avoid seeing it, but to us real football fans it’s pretty clear that it was a dirty play.

    A game suspension is sufficient in light of the first time infraction.

  23. I don’t have a strong opinion on whether a suspension was warranted. But anyone who calls it a “great block” has been watching Tomlin ball for too long. Blocking or tackling by putting your helmet into an opponent’s helmet is poor fundamentals. Worse yet, it is dangerous.

  24. .
    @notwhoyouthinkitis

    ” Do you always make up lies? Seriously. The only ones talking about Gronk are Raven fans who are whistling loudly past the graveyard.”

    ———

    I’ve yet to see one Ravens fan comment on the Gronkowski situation. I’ve see scores of Steelers fans adjudicating it.

    If you want me to contribute something verifiable, try this one: Tom Brady is 10-2 vs Pittsburgh.
    .

  25. hoosierhandicapper says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:15 pm
    What complete garbage.

    A borderline football play from a guy with no past history.
    ——————
    It’s quite difficult to have a past history when you’re a rookie.

    He sure as heck has history now…

  26. I don’t like suspensions for stuff that happens during a play unless it is obvious there was intent to injure. IMHO, his standing over the injured player like he completed some sort of conquest is enough to show intent for me. Gronk’s was the same intent but well after the play so it could be viewed as worse. Absent the Juju play, i doubt the end zone one would have gotten a suspension.

  27. Survey of one – but this is a major reason I’ve stopped watching. If it weren’t for fantasy, which I play just as a way to continue interacting with old friends, I wouldn’t pay attention to the game in any way whatsoever. I haven’t actively watched a game, even the Superbowl, in about four years.

    I get protecting the players from malicious hits, Rob Gronkowski deserved a multiple game suspension that was a garbage move, but how can you protect them from the natural viciousness of the game itself? They have greatly devalued the product by not simply acknowledging that some of the game is brutal. Players getting injured is not bad for the league long-term, but altering the game in material ways will be. Plus, while rare, think of how many great players received their chance b/c of an injury? Tom Brady comes to mind.

    JuJu made an incredible block on a player who was still involved in the play – and the outrage is absolutely feigned. Jon Gruden would have praised that block in the film room every time, and I bet Tomlin does the same. The antics of standing over him were over the top – but at the same time understandable given the context (Bengals / Steelers – Vontaze, etc.). But everyone else pretending to be upset should stop, the grandstanding is pathetic.

  28. I think Ilokas should be kept as well. This is just getting ridiculous with these two teams. The officiating never has any control and I want Marvin to be gone because he has zero discipline over his team. Tomlin is no better with what he lets go. Marvin just needs to be gone after this year we fans can’t take it anymore. I could have wrote that collapse and 9 times out of 10 it would happen because the Bengals have no clock management and have absolutely no clue how to make second half adjustments. Get a coach that will actually use John Ross. Marvin needs to take responsibility for his failures when he tries to set an example out of a rookie for making rookie mistakes. Marvin isn’t a rookie he shouldn’t get a pass. Hold yourself accountable the way you do your players.

  29. Pittsburgh & Baltimore is an awesome rivalry because despite the hard hiring, there has always been respect

    Pittsburgh & Cincinattii is a bad rivalry for the league because it’s a hard hitting rivalry with 0 respect. And ground zero for the that reason is Marvin Lewis. Never going to win anything with that guy.

  30. Juju had the opportunity and he took the shot. But he should know that in all future games vs Cincinnati, Burfict won’t hesitate to do something absolutely crazy to get even.

  31. they could simply rest their starters this week and win out after that to take home field advantage thru the playoffs

  32. Steeler fans were warned about being so quick to judge Gronk – the usual ruckus v the Bengals leads to losing your 2nd best WR for a game.

    I can’t stop laughing at the irony of it all.

  33. Burfict is by far one of the dirtiest players in the NFL. Karma just caught up with him.
    If Va JJ doesn’t taunt him I think he gets a fine at most.

  34. Schuster made what is now an illegal block much worse with the taunting afterwards and showed little remorse. One game seems fair. Gronk deserves at least two games given the completely defenseless position of the Buffalo player. The NFL needs to get things in balance and stand up for the illegal hits.

  35. notwhoyouthinkitis says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:45 pm
    “6ball says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:40 pm
    .
    Pittsburgh – focused on Gronkowski
    Baltimore – focused on Pittsburgh”

    Do you always make up lies? Seriously. The only ones talking about Gronk are Raven fans who are whistling loudly past the graveyard.
    ———-
    See Mike Mitchell’s twitter feed after Gronkowski’s suspension was upheld. Hint, he plays for the Steelers.

  36. jackericsson says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    JuJu was already becoming one of my favorite Steelers OF ALL TIME- in less than 8 months since being drafted. Now JuJu going all Hines Ward on Burfict! Steelers still owe Burfict a few. So he better keep his head on a swivel with JuJu around. And the one game suspension, well worth it! And Mike Brown doesn’t own the Bengals, the Steelers do!

    ——————

    That’s cute from a fan of the dirtiest team in the league. The Steelers owe Burfict a few? Pretty sure it’s the other way around. Bernard’s brain… Huber’s and Rivers’ jaw… Palmer’s ACL… Anderson’s neck…

    I’ll give you a Brown brain and Bell ankle. But don’t pretend like the Steelers don’t play dirty.

  37. dudeicle says:
    December 6, 2017 at 12:14 am
    they could simply rest their starters this week and win out after that to take home field advantage thru the playoffs

    how has that worked out over the last 16 years?

  38. joe6606 says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:24 pm
    If gruden keeps his mouth shut, there’s not even a whisper of a suspension.

    Do you really think Gruden is the reason the NFL suspended him?

  39. The only issue I have with this suspension is that he gets the same amount as Gronk, who in my opinion clearly tried to injure someone with a completely non-football related play. I think JuJu should have got a suspension here for the hit/taunting, but to say this is equal as what Gronkowski did is laughable at best. I think this is more of the NFL sending a message to the Steelers/Bengals to knock of the dangerous stuff, instead of punishing players equally or with common sense. If this is worth one game, then Gronk has to get two games. (I only use the Gronk comparison as it happened the same week.)

  40. It’s rather funny watching all these Steelers fans make excuses for a very obvious dirty play. Guarantee you if it would have been the other way around, you all would be screaming for Burfic to be banned for life. Just get over it and be glad its only one game.

  41. l3wisit3 says:

    December 5, 2017 at 8:41 pm
    Weak. That was a great block through and through.
    ________________________________________________________

    It wasn’t a great block because it is now against the rules. I believe that type of block shouldn’t be illegal, but it is what it is. I played hockey at the professional level, and I think there is a parallel here. In hockey, or football you could always go out there and try to hit a guy out of his skates/cleats on a hit, but you didn’t have to. I think on these crack back blocks, you don’t have to destroy the guy and possibly end his career on a block. When the guy isn’t looking you could let up a bit, and the guy would be completely out of the play still. The spirit of the game isn’t trying to mame people on the field, it’s to play hard, physical and to compete your hardest.

  42. 1. This was bang bang play that happened much quicker than the video can portray.

    2. Smaller player can’t possibly let up and sure had no way of knowing that much larger player wasn’t aware contact was imminent.

    3. Hit was square on, not from side. Some degree of blame goes to Cincy linebacker for not being prepared, though the opponent was in his sight.

    4. Taunting never has related to a suspension in the history of NFL. NEVER! Penalty, yes. Fine, on very rare occasion–I think.

    5. All of the above stated–NFL wants to hold the player ACCOUNTABLE for a hard hit to an opponent that only the camera can determine to be defenseless. The linebacker war hurt, knocked out of the game at a minimum. I won’t argue with NFL holding the Pitt receiver accountable for the results of a violent hit, but bringing “taunting” into the discussion when concluding suspension is warranted-for the first and only time ever–will not be forgotten when the next cb Agreement is being negotiated. This part of the discipline sets a bad precedent that the NFL is going to regret setting.

    6. Final comment is that penalties have accomplished nothing, fines have accomplished very little. We have embarked on the next level of determent, that being suspensions, and the bar is now changing dramatically right before our eyes. I do hope that this does the job as related to changing the behavior of players whose entire football experience had taught/encouraged them that violent hits were part of the game.

  43. hoosierhandicapper says:
    December 5, 2017 at 8:19 pm
    *Neanderthal … before any halfwitted Chowderheads chime in.

    ——————
    Yeah, thanks for bringing up the Patriots. This is a Steelers article and it would once in a while be nice to discuss a Steelers issue without bringing up the Patriots and comparing everything to whats going on with the Patriots. The best way to look like you believe your team is inferior to another team is to not be able to stop thinking about that other team and making everything about them. Anyone that thinks about the Patriots more than the Steelers isnt a Steelers fan, they are a Pats fan.

  44. Both JuJu and Gronk were unacceptable, but tell me which you think is worse: a spontaneous cheap shot after the play is over, or a premeditated cheap shot during the play that apparently involves money.

  45. If the suspension is based on the hit, I disagree with this. It was a legal hit. He was running laterally. It was not a crackback, peelback, blindside, or any other type of illegal hit. He was directly in front of Burfict, and hit him with his shoulder into Burficts chest.

    The taunting on the other hand was just stupid. I don’t believe suspension worthy stupid. The guy is a rookie, never had a fine before, and theyre automatically resorting to suspension?

    What happened to escalating penalties?

  46. Both teams are complete trash anyway.
    They deserve each other.
    They’re both lucky they play in the AFC, because they’ll avoid the embarrassment of playing in the NFC playoffs.
    I f either of these powder puffs went up against the Vikings Defense they’d know what pain really is.
    I seriously doubt Fat Ben or Dalton would survive the game.
    Just ask the Packers how we treat opposing QBs.
    Ha Ha Ha!!!!

  47. weepingjebus says:
    December 6, 2017 at 9:15 am
    Both JuJu and Gronk were unacceptable, but tell me which you think is worse: a spontaneous cheap shot after the play is over, or a premeditated cheap shot during the play that apparently involves money.
    —————
    Well to ask a fair question you have to call both what they were really, not try to spin your descriptions to favor one.

  48. txtroutslayer says:
    December 6, 2017 at 8:46 am
    It’s rather funny watching all these Steelers fans make excuses for a very obvious dirty play. Guarantee you if it would have been the other way around, you all would be screaming for Burfic to be banned for life. Just get over it and be glad its only one game.

    —————
    It has been the other way around plenty of times. And your point is proven by their comments at those timex. The moral outrage being expressed is a bunch of bull. What we are really hearing here is an “if another teams player does it then its a high crime but if one of my teams players does it thats ok”. Anyone that claims thats not what they are saying really is kidfing others and posdibly themselves to.

  49. Non Steelers fans do not understand the joy Steeler fans felt Monday night when JuJu Smith-Shuster earholed Vontaze Burfict, causing him to leave the only way he ever should leave a football field – ON A CART.

    It was beautiful and amazing.

  50. Deb says:

    December 5, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    After watching the footage multiple times, I don’t believe it was an illegal block nor that he should have been suspended. But it was a nasty game in a string of nasty games between these teams, and JuJu brought negative attention to himself for behaving like an idiot after the hit. I hope this won’t deter him from aggressively blocking–heaven knows Goodell would eliminate all hitting if he could. But I hope it does deter him from behaving like an idiot.
    __________________________________________________________________________________

    He probably shouldn’t be suspended but it was most certainly an illegal block. In fact, look at it in slow motion and you can tell that the first part of Burfict’s body that was hit was his facemask by Smith-Shuster’s helmet. It was dirty and I don’t believe for one second that he didn’t know it was Burfict. That said, I understand why he made the block.

  51. jimmarshall70 says:

    December 6, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Both teams are complete trash anyway.
    They deserve each other.
    They’re both lucky they play in the AFC, because they’ll avoid the embarrassment of playing in the NFC playoffs.
    I f either of these powder puffs went up against the Vikings Defense they’d know what pain really is.
    I seriously doubt Fat Ben or Dalton would survive the game.
    Just ask the Packers how we treat opposing QBs.
    Ha Ha Ha!!!!
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Don’t forget which team you stole your coach from.

    Also, and I don’t mean to make an argument for the Steelers, but didn’t they beat you guys earlier this year already?

  52. theroc5156 says:
    December 6, 2017 at 10:42 am
    jimmarshall70 says:

    December 6, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Both teams are complete trash anyway.
    They deserve each other.
    They’re both lucky they play in the AFC, because they’ll avoid the embarrassment of playing in the NFC playoffs.
    I f either of these powder puffs went up against the Vikings Defense they’d know what pain really is.
    I seriously doubt Fat Ben or Dalton would survive the game.
    Just ask the Packers how we treat opposing QBs.
    Ha Ha Ha!!!!
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Don’t forget which team you stole your coach from.

    Also, and I don’t mean to make an argument for the Steelers, but didn’t they beat you guys earlier this year already?
    ————————————————————-
    Luck!
    The Vikes have been held back for years by injuries and bad officiating.
    Not this year though.
    Stay out of our way and hide your quarterbacks!!!

  53. jimmarshall70 says:
    December 6, 2017 at 9:34 am
    Both teams are complete trash anyway.
    They deserve each other.
    They’re both lucky they play in the AFC, because they’ll avoid the embarrassment of playing in the NFC playoffs.
    I f either of these powder puffs went up against the Vikings Defense they’d know what pain really is.
    I seriously doubt Fat Ben or Dalton would survive the game.
    Just ask the Packers how we treat opposing QBs.
    Ha Ha Ha!!!!

    ————–

    Please child…..the Vikings don’t scare the Pats or the Steelers. In fact, given their annual propensity for implosion, I’m not sure they scare any teams in the NFC either.

    The Saints are the only team capable of putting up enough points to beat either the Pats or the Steelers.

  54. I’m a Cowboys fan, thus I hate the Stealers.

    But this is NOT a blindside block. Smith-Shuster was DIRECTLY in front of Burfict, not coming in from an angle. There WAS helmet-to-helmet contact, but it was minimal and the helmet was NOT used to spear Burfict. I will say that I actually think that Smith-Shuster was initially stunned. Look at it again. At first, Smith-Shuster’s left foot is between Burfict’s legs and his arm are almost limp. Nobody is home right then. But by the time that Smith-Shuster’s left foot is moved out to Burfict’s waist, Smith-Shuster’s was no longer stunned and it became taunting.

    So Helmet-to-helmet, yes. Barely. Taunting, yes. Again, barely. Illegal blindside block, no. And Burfict was well enough to suddenly sit up and shove Smith-Shuster before he miraculously was injured.

  55. I watched the play live and have rewatched it a few times. This was not a dirty play. The head to head was incidental. JuJu lead with his shoulder and their heads happen to make contact. I thought it was a clean play then and still do. But for full disclosure I am a life long Raider fan and that was they way they played when I became a fan and how I like my football.

    I get that head injuries are bad and the after effects are very scary. I also know that these are highly compensated athletes that know the risk of what they are putting themselves through. I dont want anyone hurt especially via a dirty play. This was not a dirty play by any stretch of the imagination. FYI Gruden calls this a crack back block and it is not a crack back block, that happens at the line of scrimmage not down field. Clean Hard Hitting Play! Thats what it was.

  56. sadly it was a completely clean hit, the problem was the taunting. Hit was cleaner than a lot of the ones Burfict has laid out in his career.

  57. FinFan68 says:
    December 5, 2017 at 10:41 pm
    I don’t like suspensions for stuff that happens during a play unless it is obvious there was intent to injure. IMHO, his standing over the injured player like he completed some sort of conquest is enough to show intent for me. Gronk’s was the same intent but well after the play so it could be viewed as worse. Absent the Juju play, i doubt the end zone one would have gotten a suspension.

    ———————————————————————————————————————–

    Good comment all around, but I’d go further and say that absent JuJu’s ridiculous behavior after the hit, there would have been no suspension for either him or Iloka (the end zone play). As you said, that behavior gave tainted the hit by implying an intent other than blocking the defender. And Goodell is incapable of viewing plays independently. He always has to consider how they will “play” to the public. He suspended Gronk, so he had to suspend JuJu. He suspended JuJu, so he had to suspend a Bengal. Always the PR guy.

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