Curran: NFL ‘bears responsibility’ for Bengals-Steelers

[Steve0x]

You can blame a lot of people for the madness that took place on Saturday night between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Vontaze Burfict. Pacman Jones. Marvin Lewis. Mike Tomlin. Joey Porter. Just to name a few.

Looking back at the game on Sports Sunday, Tom E. Curran suggests that someone else needs to take share of the blame.

“Am I out of my mind for saying the league bears a large segment of responsibility for this?” asked Curran. “They knew this was going to go on. They had those guys in the no fly zone before the game. Yet, no one from the NFL ops - who were so quick to go down to the Patriots sidelines a couple times so far last year and this year - was able to go down at half time and say, ‘Look, we’re going to start ejecting people. Get your players away from the officials after they make a call. If we don’t get that kind of cooperation there’s going to be bench penalties.’”

 

 

http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/curran-nfl-bears-responsibility-bengals-steelers?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

 

[baroquenspirit]

I think he has a good point. And I know I will probably get a lot of push back...but I believe it would have benefitted the Steelers. The Steelers players were not the one's losing control of their minds and emotions. I think Burfict, Jones and a couple other Bengals might have been tossed. They didn't seem to be able to stop themselves from being stupid no matter what the cost. 

[Moderator 3]

Peter King "blames" the participants. http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/01/11/nfl-open-letter-players

[Steve0x]

I blame Goodell and the type of Refs he appointed for that game.

[baroquenspirit]

Well, Burfict was on notice from the league for his hit in the Ravens game. Does the league want the three star players out for one of the teams in the divisional round of the playoffs? Cause thats what they got. Ben, Bell and Brown...all hurt, not by a football player...by an out of control, angry thug, hell bent on injuring people. He tried to injure Cam and Greg Olsen. Imagine if he succeed at that? Where would the Panthers be? Congrats NFL. Well done. Burfict should be suspended for a season. 

[baroquenspirit]

Peter King "blames" the participants. http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/01/11/nfl-open-letter-players

In this particular case...nothing the Steelers did rose to the trash of the Bengals. Even if you flag Shazier...his hit was not intentional attempt to injure and he does not have a history unnecessary roughness like Burfict. Joey Porter? Guess what, Bengals assistant coaches were all over the field when Bernard got hurt. But guess what, no Steeler players stopped them from leaving the field, pulled on them, pushed them and got involved. Bengals brought this on themselves, They got exactly what they deserved. 

[Tank 92]

In this particular case...nothing the Steelers did rose to the trash of the Bengals. Even if you flag Shazier...his hit was not intentional attempt to injure and he does not have a history unnecessary roughness like Burfict. Joey Porter? Guess what, Bengals assistant coaches were all over the field when Bernard got hurt. But guess what, no Steeler players stopped them from leaving the field, pulled on them, pushed them and got involved. Bengals brought this on themselves, They got exactly what they deserved.

Just a guess on my part, but I would bet the bengals assistants act or talk nothing like porter. lol I guarantee he purposely came on the field to add fuel to the fire. joey is pure punk. Edited January 13, 2016 by Tank 92

[baroquenspirit]

Just a guess on my part, but I would bet the bengals assistants act or talk nothing like porter. lol I guarantee he purposely came on the field to add fuel to the fire. joey is pure punk.

Here's the thing. It's the NFL..men like Porter, Suggs and Burfict play in it. Nearly every team has a guy or two like this. They are "punks," "thugs," and "dirty players" when they are on our opponents team and "tough" when they are on our team. There are also few who go beyond being a tough, hard-hitting player who pushes the rules...guys like Suh and Burfict and Harrison (Although he has steered clear of fines and trouble recently.) I know Ravens fans would say Hines Ward. Some Steeler fans would say Suggs (your natural inclination to defend and reject as Ravens fans did in another post only proves my earlier point. The rest of the league votes him dirty). So be it.  I have no illusions about Joey Porter. He has always been a stir the pot guy. However, he was certainly smarter than Burfict, Jones and one other Bengal player (96 or 98, not sure) in that game. He never raised his hands. He never took an aggressive posture. They pushed, pulled, shoved and ultimately swung at him. As a Steeler fan, I have watched that sequence of events about 15 times. Porter IS in the huddle around Brown. When Brown and the Steeler crew begin to leave the field...Bengal players confront Porter. Was he running his mouth? Odds are he was. SO WHAT. Walk away...but no, several Bengals physically bumped, pushed and pulled him. They positioned their bodies between Porter and his path back to the bench. They can point fingers and blame him all they want. No decent parent would accept "but he called me a name" for the costly level of response the Bengal players had. Neither did the Ref. The Bengals bought and paid for that loss. Besides, the Steelers still had to execute a lot of plays to get in the position to have a chance. 

[Tank 92]

Here's the thing. It's the NFL..men like Porter, Suggs and Burfict play in it. Nearly every team has a guy or two like this. They are "punks," "thugs," and "dirty players" when they are on our opponents team and "tough" when they are on our team. There are also few who go beyond being a tough, hard-hitting player who pushes the rules...guys like Suh and Burfict and Harrison (Although he has steered clear of fines and trouble recently.) I know Ravens fans would say Hines Ward. Some Steeler fans would say Suggs (your natural inclination to defend and reject as Ravens fans did in another post only proves my earlier point. The rest of the league votes him dirty). So be it.  I have no illusions about Joey Porter. He has always been a stir the pot guy. However, he was certainly smarter than Burfict, Jones and one other Bengal player (96 or 98, not sure) in that game. He never raised his hands. He never took an aggressive posture. They pushed, pulled, shoved and ultimately swung at him. As a Steeler fan, I have watched that sequence of events about 15 times. Porter IS in the huddle around Brown. When Brown and the Steeler crew begin to leave the field...Bengal players confront Porter. Was he running his mouth? Odds are he was. SO WHAT. Walk away...but no, several Bengals physically bumped, pushed and pulled him. They positioned their bodies between Porter and his path back to the bench. They can point fingers and blame him all they want. No decent parent would accept "but he called me a name" for the costly level of response the Bengal players had. Neither did the Ref. The Bengals bought and paid for that loss. Besides, the Steelers still had to execute a lot of plays to get in the position to have a chance.

As I think you know I wanted the squealers to win for my own reasons, but have to say it was obvious to anyone why porter came on the field. He should have been flagged as well, no doubt.

[baroquenspirit]

As I think you know I wanted the squealers to win for my own reasons, but have to say it was obvious to anyone why porter came on the field. He should have been flagged as well, no doubt.

I can accept that if you also think the Bengal coaches should have been flagged for coming on the field to surround Gio. Or the Ravens coaches in the AFC Championship game a few years back when McGahee went down. Every team does it. Im guessing it will get enforced more strictly in the future. Someone better tell Harbaugh, who spends half the game 15 yards out on the field yelling for a flag!

[Tank 92]

I can accept that if you also think the Bengal coaches should have been flagged for coming on the field to surround Gio. Or the Ravens coaches in the AFC Championship game a few years back when McGahee went down. Every team does it. Im guessing it will get enforced more strictly in the future. Someone better tell Harbaugh, who spends half the game 15 yards out on the field yelling for a flag!

That's not what I meant and I'm sure you know that. As with any rule, judgement and discretion enter into enforcement. Porter's intent coming on the field was not to attend to an injured player or to debate anything with an official. He came on the field to talk trash and confront opposing players, anyone watching could see that and he should have been flagged.

[baroquenspirit]

That's not what I meant and I'm sure you know that. As with any rule, judgement and discretion enter into enforcement. Porter's intent coming on the field was not to attend to an injured player or to debate anything with an official. He came on the field to talk trash and confront opposing players, anyone watching could see that and he should have been flagged.

Anyone watching? Really? Exactly what do you see on that tape which 1) Clearly reveals Porter's intent, 2) Clearly says he should have been flagged? As I said, Ive watched it about 15 times. Porter is in the huddle around Brown, he tries to leave the field, several Bengals physically engage him. He never raises his arms.  So you are inferring a lot about intent and flags from, well, from what?       Here is a slo - mo of the mix up. It begins after Porter has been separated from the steeler huddle by Bengal players...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wysECduSPfk      

[Bengal Billy]

There's alot of stuff that should/shouldn't have been penalized/fined during that mess of a game (for both sides of the field). There should've been ejections, control of/from coaches on both sides, but it's all debatable depending on which side of the "field" a person is on (if they're not that open-minded, that is).

^^To the Porter discussion above:

I've read on other sites that the NFL is going to fine Porter for his actions, and admitted that he should've been flagged too. I cannot confirm/deny that though, so take it for what it's worth.

However, if Porter does get fined, then he obviously DID do something as well in the eyes of the league. But, what's done is done. I'm not concerned over it. Jones should've held that emotion in check.

-- The hit on Bernard by Shazier actually won the game for the Steelers in my opinion (and I'm not debating if it should've been a flag or not. It could've been one, which negated a fumble: or, it could've been a Pitt TD, , I have no interest in debating it).

All season long, Cincy had been using Gio Bernard late in "game-winning" situations when ball security is imperative. Because Gio was knocked out,, they had to put Hill in that situation. Jeremy Hill has had serious fumbling issues for the past 2 seasons. He was actually "benched" a couple times this year because of it, and was not too happy about it.

When the Bengals had the ball with 1:30 or so left on the clock,, and I saw Hill in the game, I knew he would cough it up. I told my buddy Hill would give it back. Sure enough, it happened.

So, regardless of any feeling toward Shazier's hit,, it actually was extremely critical to the outcome of the game. Kudos to him for that.

Edited January 13, 2016 by Bengal Billy

[Tank 92]

Anyone watching? Really? Exactly what do you see on that tape which 1) Clearly reveals Porter's intent, 2) Clearly says he should have been flagged? As I said, Ive watched it about 15 times. Porter is in the huddle around Brown, he tries to leave the field, several Bengals physically engage him. He never raises his arms.  So you are inferring a lot about intent and flags from, well, from what?       Here is a slo - mo of the mix up. It begins after Porter has been separated from the steeler huddle by Bengal players...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wysECduSPfk

Lol, thanks, but I'm good. Also I'm pretty sure the video you watched doesn't have audio. Maybe you can go to the league as his rep and defend him as the fine is on it's way.

[baroquenspirit]

There's alot of stuff that should/shouldn't have been penalized/fined during that mess of a game (for both sides of the field). There should've been ejections, control of/from coaches on both sides, but it's all debatable depending on which side of the "field" a person is on (if they're not that open-minded, that is).

^^To the Porter discussion above:

I've read on other sites that the NFL is going to fine Porter for his actions, and admitted that he should've been flagged too. I cannot confirm/deny that though, so take it for what it's worth.

However, if Porter does get fined, then he obviously DID do something as well in the eyes of the league. But, what's done is done. I'm not concerned over it. Jones should've held that emotion in check.

-- The hit on Bernard by Shazier actually won the game for the Steelers in my opinion (and I'm not debating if it should've been a flag or not. It could've been one, which negated a fumble: or, it could've been a Pitt TD, , I have no interest in debating it).

All season long, Cincy had been using Gio Bernard late in "game-winning" situations when ball security is imperative. Because Gio was knocked out,, they had to put Hill in that situation. Jeremy Hill has had serious fumbling issues for the past 2 seasons. He was actually "benched" a couple times this year because of it, and was not too happy about it.

When the Bengals had the ball with 1:30 or so left on the clock,, and I saw Hill in the game, I knew he would cough it up. I told my buddy Hill would give it back. Sure enough, it happened.

So, regardless of any feeling toward Shazier's hit,, it actually was extremely critical to the outcome of the game. Kudos to him for that.

I agree that the loss of Gio was big for you guys...especially with the way it went down at the end with the fumble. The only thing I would say is there were a ton of game changing plays in that game. One of the craziest I have ever seen. 

[K-Dog]

This video shows some slow motion details on what happened between the steelers and bengals.

 

[baroquenspirit]

Here we see Porter confronting the Bengals, oh wait.