National Football League

Panthers calling for more than fines against Burfict

Published Oct. 13, 2014 6:36 p.m. ET

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CINCINNATI -- The Carolina Panthers didn't take too kindly to the post-tackle techniques of Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict during Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium that ended in a 37-37 tie.

Video replays showed Burfict twisting on the ankles of Carolina quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen after they each scored touchdowns in the second half of the game. Both players had offseason ankle surgeries.

Burfict was playing in his first game since Sept. 14. He suffered concussions in each of the first two games of the season. He finished Sunday's game with 10 tackles, including one for a loss. While neither of the two ankle incidents drew a flag from the crew of referee Carl Cheffers -- which assessed 21 penalties for a combined 179 yards between the two teams -- Burfict was called for two personal fouls and an illegal contact penalty.

Olsen called for Burfict to draw more than a fine from the league.

"In instances like that that are so clearly premeditated, that he had in his mind that if he had those opportunities that he was going to try to attack guys' legs, but guys who are coming off ankle problems specifically, there's no room for it," said Olsen to reporters in Charlotte on Monday.

"And I think the punishment needs to go beyond a fine. Guys like that don't learn from that stuff. He's been fined 100 times for head-hunting and he did it to Kelvin (Benjamin) again. You watch the film, it's just what he is."

One of Burfict's personal fouls was for unnecessary roughness on a hit against Benjamin, a wide receiver.

Burfict was fined nearly $60,000 last season for his over-aggressive style; he was hit for a total of $31,000 against Green Bay in Week 3 for hitting a defenseless receiver and then striking another player in the groin. He was also fined $7,875 for a face mask penalty at Buffalo in Week 6 and then was hit with another $21,000 bill from the NFL office for hitting then-New York Jets receiver Stephen Hill with the crown of his helmet in Week 8.

Burfict was called for just three penalties in his rookie season of 2012 but that jumped up to 14 last season, including nine personal fouls. Twelve of his penalties last season led to a first down for the opponent, according to NFL stats. He's been called for four penalties this season, three of which gave opponents a first down.

Carolina head coach Ron Rivera indicated Monday that he would be sending a tape of the incidents to the league for further review.

Burfict declined comment on Monday. Even though he has passed through the NFL's concussion protocol and practiced all last week he has not spoken with reporters since before the season opener at Baltimore when he suffered his first concussion.

During his Monday press conference, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis blew off the thought that Burfict was doing anything malicious.

"I don't have any comment," said Lewis. "Ankle wrenching. Sounds like the WWF."

Burfict left Sunday's game for what was described as a hit to the head in the second quarter after tackling running back Fozzy Whittaker. He was taken off the field and immediately went to the locker room for medical evaluation but returned in time for Carolina's next possession.

"With the anxiousness of being back out there, he got winded early on which had as much to do with him leaving the game as anything," said Lewis. "He came right back after they went in and checked him, because he was fine."

Now Burfict has to worry about being fined. Or being suspended, if the NFL listens to Olsen.

"Football is a high-speed game and things happen -- helmet-to-helmet collisions, late hits, tackles out of bounds. In the heat of the moment stuff like that happens," said Olsen. "But I think when play's over, two players are laying in the end zone and you happen to have their legs and you start cranking, I think that's a whole different animal."

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