Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict fined $69,454 vs. Steelers

The NFL did choose to fine Votaze Burfict for a controversial low hit on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It was reported earlier in the week that Burfict would not be fined, but Schefter cleared things up by saying Burfict was fined for that hit and for two other infractions.

There were two unnecessary roughness fines and then the hit on Roethlisberger, and Burfict will appeal the fines, according to Schefter. The three fines by Burfict totaled $69,454, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The Roethlisberger hit came in the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 33-20 Week 14 win in Cincinnati. Burfict said that he was pushed into the quarterback's legs, but Roethlisberger did not agree after seeing a video of the incident.

"I have seen the clip, and I don't buy that he was pushed," Roethlisberger said Tuesday on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan. "You know, I think that he definitely was diving in low and going for my legs."

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that he expected the league to pursue "due diligence" in the matter.

The Week 14 matchup between the Bengals and the Steelers was chippy throughout, as division rivalry games often are. Burfict was also involved in a pregame fight between the two teams.

Burfict has been flagged three times this season. An illegal use of hands penalty against him cost the Bengals 5 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11, and Burfict was hit with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty in Week 12 against the St. Louis Rams. Burfict was not flagged for the low hit on Roethlisberger in Week 14, but he did commit an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter, giving the Steelers half the distance to the goal from the Cincinnati 3-yard line.

Over the course of his career, he has been fined a total of $77,000 for four different in-game incidents. That does not include these recent fines.

In 2013, striking Green Bay Packers tight end Ryan Taylor in the groin resulted in a $10,000 fine for Burfict, and during the same game, a hit on defenseless James Jones brought on a $21,000 fine. Burfict was also fined $21,000 for spearing New York Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill in 2013. In 2014, the league fined him $25,000 for twisting the ankles of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen.