Pittsburgh Steelers: Rivalry with Bengals has gone far enough
An already heated rivalry turned vicious when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals met in Week 13, proving it’s time to stop this mess.
Easily the most vicious rivalry in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Cincinnati Bengals have taken it to a new level. Rivalries are a huge part of sports, but both teams have created something beyond that. They have made the game we love and respect into a mockery. It’s time to finally shut the door on this.
As someone who is constantly around Steelers fans, I hear a lot about the Bengals. It’s almost all negative and most of it surrounding Vontaze Burfict. Burfict has a reputation as a dirty player, there’s no doubt there. What JuJu Smith-Schuster did was inexcusable, however, no matter what Burfict did. A one-game suspension is a slap on the wrist for what he did.
Knocking someone out is serious and could result in future problems. The same thing can be said for the Bengals, though. When Burfict hit Antonio Brown last season, it was vicious and inexcusable. Most of all, it was the catalyst for what we’re seeing and dealing with now.
Dirty hits have no place in football and are part of the reason why the concussion protocol is so important. While Smith-Schuster and Burfict were alright, Ryan Shazier is not. Shazier was not hit by anyone, but instead fell to the ground while trying to make a tackle.
A stretcher came out later and took Shazier to the hospital with a spinal injury. This didn’t involve the rivalry, but it proves an excellent point. Why try to go out there and hurt someone especially with your teammate in the hospital? You play for them, but don’t take it to the next level.
It’s doubtfully Shazier would like to see that from the hospital. He’d be ashamed to see his teammates acting so childish and causing someone else harm. This isn’t just about the Steelers, though. The Bengals are by no means innocent, either.
Despite George Iloka’s suspension being overturned, he shouldn’t have hit Antonio Brown the way he did. It was uncalled for and is one of the countless times Brown has been targeted by the Bengals defensive players. It might not have been on purpose, but being cautious and paying more attention could have saved Iloka from it.
No amount of anger or disappointment should result in the injury of someone else. One thing both teams need to remember is winning isn’t everything. Yes, it’s a game but having fun is important, too. I understand in the moment, it’s hard to remember that. Playing viciously and overly aggressive doesn’t do any good and only fuels the already bad blood.
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This game should be upheld as a lesson to all players, coaches, and fans. No matter how much you dislike a player or team, dirty hits are inexcusable. If the Bengals and Steelers can’t keep themselves in check, then it’s time for a change.
The NFL needs to crack down like they have on suspension and ejections. Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman proved that last season. Clearly, the NFL hasn’t learned so now is the time. Don’t take unnecessary roughness so cavalier and show it’s unacceptable. A rivalry is never fun when it turns bloody.