National Football League

NFL confirms $25,000 fine to Burfict

Published Oct. 17, 2014 3:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

CINCINNATI -- The NFL confirmed Friday afternoon that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been fined $25,000 for a pair of ankle twisting incidents in last Sunday's 37-37 tie against Carolina.

Burfict twisted the ankles of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen after both had been tackled in the end zone while scoring touchdowns. Neither took kindly to the extracurricular activity, with Newton kicking at Burfict in order to break free from the grab.

The league office, in an e-mail, wrote that Burfict was being fined "for two unnecessary roughness violations. Specifically, he unnecessarily twisted an opponent's leg after plays in the third and fourth quarter."

Burfict was not penalized by game officials for either play but the NFL came down with its own penalty after Carolina players voiced their displeasure with Burfict's play and head coach Ron Rivera sent the league office tapes of the incidents.

Adam Caplan of ESPN.com on Thursday reported that Burfict plans on appealing the fine.

Burfict was fined nearly $60,000 last season for his actions in three different games against Green Bay, Buffalo and the New York Jets. While he led the NFL in tackles he also collected 14 penalties last season, including nine personal fouls.

The Bengals did not speak directly to the fine, but head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther both spoke this week about the need for Burfict to better walk the line between aggressive play and going beyond the rules.

"Everyone's looking at him. It's on the tape. It's on the field. He can't cross that line," said Guenther. "You've got to play within the rules. He plays hard. I'm never going to take that away from him, because that's who he is. But he's got to watch some of the things he's doing, because he's on the list. The 'list.'"

Burfict and the Bengals play Sunday at Indianapolis.