The video of the injury to Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell looked gruesome and likely season-ending. But early reports were that Bell’s ACL was intact and that he may have only a damaged MCL, with a recovery in weeks. However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Bell has a “badly torn” MCL with additional damage to his knee. Bell is now expected to miss the rest of the season.
NFL: Steelers Bell “badly torn” MCL; Bengals Vontaze Burfict NFL’s Dirtiest Player?
Le’Veon Bell Injury Reported to be “badly torn” MCL Likely Done for Season
The MCL is a rope-like ligament and typically can heal with rest. Indeed, the Steelers were excited Sunday to field nearly a complete team Sunday with the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who also suffered an MCL tear in the St. Louis Rams game. However, the Rapoport report indicated that a complete tear of an MCL would require surgery.
The injury occurred after Bell caught an eight yard pass from Roethlisberger in the second quarter. As he was being tackled by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, Burfict wrapped his body around Bell’s right knee when it severely buckled. Bell was clearly immediately in pain and held his knee on the sidelines before exiting on a cart.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict May Be NFL’s Dirtiest Player
While the tackle by Burfict did not look dirty on its face, several Steelers players were incensed at Burfict’s apparent celebration of the tackle and injury. Steeler’ offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert called Burfict’s behavior “bulls—t.”
Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Steelers’ offensive lineman Ramon Foster said that Burfict is the type of guy who “gets his sooner or later.” Foster added, “If you’re on the field with him [Burfict], you know what I mean by that…They’ll play it off; he’ll act dumb about it. But you don’t run across the field hyped, celebrating, jumping up and down when a guy goes down like that.”
Adams reported that Burfict and the Bengals offered mutually exclusive defenses of Burfict’s tackle and subsequent actions. One Bengals report stated that Burfict “heard a snap and was horrified” as a reason he ran away so fast after making a tackle. However, Burfict also said that he was not aware of Bell’s injury and claimed that he and Bell were friends off the field. Clearly, both of these statements cannot be true.
Burfict Known for Dirty Play
Burfict has been known for dirty play. Burfict led the league in penalties in 2013. He was fined $21,000 for hits on receivers. Burfict also was fined $10,000 striking Green Bay Packers’ tight end Ryan Taylor in the groin.
Last season, Burfict was caught twisting quarterback Cam Newton’s and tight end Greg Olsen’s ankles at the end of plays. In Newton’s case, he has just recovered from off-season ankle surgery. Burfict was fined $25,000 by the NFL for his actions. Many commentators had called for a suspension.
Burfict was called a dirty player as far back as high school when he was alleged to have tried to take out quarterback Matt Barkley’s knee on a sack attempt in a high school football game. Burfict was also called out as a dirty player in his Arizona State college playing days.
At present, it seems doubtful that Burfict will be fined or suspended by the NFL for the Bell tackle. But, with some players, there is always a controversy surrounding them and how many careers are ruined by their plays.
