I have never heard Panther tight end Greg Olsen so inflamed, and rightly so, after Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict twisted both Olsen's and Cam Newton's ankles in the end zone on Carolina scoring plays in Sunday's 37-37 tie with Cincinnati. (UPDATE: Burfict has reportedly been fined $25,000 by the league for the two ankle twists but he won't be suspended).
Olsen's quotes in this story by The Observer's Joseph Person bear a close look, because Olsen is a classy guy and a Panther captain and he measures what he says carefully. For him to call out Burfict like that -- and to call for a suspension, not just a fine -- speaks volumes about what the TV replays showed. And after watching the replays, I agree completely with him. I think Burfict should be suspended. What Burfict did has no place in football. He looked like he was using his hands for a screwdriver and Newton's and Olsen's ankles for the screw.
Burfict was flagged for two 15-yard penalties Sunday, but neither time that he "cranked," to use Olsen's word, the ankle of Newton and Olsen, was he penalized. Newton did briefly kick at Burfict to try and get him off the ankle -- the Panther quarterback was not available for comment Monday.
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,” Olsen said 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 (receiver) Kelvin (Benjamin) again. You watch the film, it’s just what he is.”
One hundred times is an exaggeration, but Olsen was obviously fired up. Burfict twice last season was fined $21,000 by the NFL for hits on receivers – one of whom was current Panthers practice squad wideout Stephen Hill, when Hill was with the N.Y. Jets. Burfict was also assessed a $10,000 fine for striking Green Bay tight end Ryan Taylor in the groin. The Cincinnati Enquirer also notes that Burfict had eight unnecessary roughness penalties in 2013 and is tied for the team lead in penalties this year despite having concussion problems. Burfict led the NFL in unnecessary-roughness penalties in 2013. In his college career, the Enquirer notes, Burfict had 22 personal fouls in 37 games.
We are talking about a dirty football player here. Certainly Bengals coach Marvin Lewis struck the wrong tone when asked about Burfict's ankle twists Monday, laughing it off by saying: "Ankle wrenching? Sounds like the WWF."
Olsen said if the league is serious about player safety, it needs to crack down on players who are intentionally trying to hurt opponents. But will it? That's an open question. I believe a two-game, unpaid suspension would send the right message to Burfict -- one game for each ankle crank.
“At some point, if the NFL wants to really say they care about guys’ safety, they’ve got to start putting guys out for weeks because me and Cam were lucky we weren’t out for weeks, or Kelvin’s out for weeks,” Olsen said. “If you’re going to start putting guys on other teams’ out, then the ramifications need to equal that.”
Or, as Panther kicker Graham Gano put it on Sunday night on Twitter:
Unbelievable that a player would intentionally try to hurt my teammates twice. I hope the NFL lays down the law hard. #Unacceptable
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 13, 2014And....
Seriously that makes me sick. There is no room in this league 4 something like that. We are grown men, have respect for the game and others.
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 13, 2014
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14 comments:
Just a punk who will get what's coming to him soon.
What a bunch of whining! Real men handle these type football situations on the field, not on Twitter.
If the Panthers had one ounce of fortitude, the story today would be the expulsion of the offensive line for taking this matter into their own hands.
Expect more of the same until you toughen up.
Scott Olsen's right about Greg Olsen being right.
Marvin Lewis should be fined for his response.
Conan, I didn't say Cam and Greg aren't tough. I said you handle this on the field.
Every single lineman should have jumped on the ankle cranker, especially after it happened again.
Where is the toughness that Steve Smith brought to his organization?
The Panthers weakness has been exposed, so expect it to continue until someone on the line man's up to protect the franchise players.
HoJo is right about Scott being right about Greg being right......
Anonymous said...
Conan, I didn't say Cam and Greg aren't tough. I said you handle this on the field.
Every single lineman should have jumped on the ankle cranker, especially after it happened again.
Where is the toughness that Steve Smith brought to his organization?
The Panthers weakness has been exposed, so expect it to continue until someone on the line man's up to protect the franchise players.
October 14, 2014 at 11:18 AM
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thats about as dumb a statement that i have heard. would you really be happy that your whole offense starting linemen get kicked out the game and or suspended because they retaliated against a call that wasnt even seen.
theres smart and theres dumb.
that would be dumb.
greg is doing it the smart way. its clear video evidence out there. he scored. he still gets to play next week. and he's reporting it and putting it out there to the masses. now us, as fans need to do our part and complain, just as much and as hard as they complained about the suspensions of Ray Rice and Greg Hardy.
I can't believe someone is dumb enough to say the whole offensive line is not tough because they didn't clock out Burfict and take the chance of being kicked out of the game.Only losers like this joker and Burfict have that type mindset.League official are paid high bucks to sort out the punishment for these type of offenses. I can only hope in ths case it is severe.
I am one that likes to watch football for the hard hits and injuries. That's why it's a contact sport and not flag football. It's what draws a lot of people to the sport. That's why the players are so overpaid, because that face a threat of injury on every play. I watch car races for the wrecks. I watch boxing to see blood and a knockout. I watch hunting shows for the animal kill. And there are more of us than you think.
If they continue to water down the toughness of football, the NFL will see their attendance drop.
Everyone likes to see the hard hits, but no normal person wishes injuries on the players. Injuries happen as part of the game, but cheap shots, late hits and intentional acts intended to cause injury to a player should be punished. Football is a group of 11 players working together to score or keep the opponent from scoring. It is not about hauling off players in a body bag. These players are paid to play the game and not to be injured for your pleasure. They have families like everyone else and they need to provide for them now and after football. If that's what your looking for, then maybe you should take up watching Ultimate fighting or something like that.
Where is Tom Sorenson Scott? Is everything OK? Been a couple weeks since his last post...
Olsen MIGHT have a career in the flag football league.
Olsen wears too much pink.
Real men can wear pink and be secure. And I am glad you guys have found an Avenue to make you feel special and tough yourselves. I bet you would call the police if someone looks at you hard. Goooooo tough guys. Panthers rock.
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