Steelers, Bengals reach new lows
Two players carted off, two others suspended, many fines to follow. The Steelers and Bengals, one of the NFL’s nastiest rivalries set new lows in prime time Monday night, forcing fans to avert their eyes.
The Steelers rallied for a 23-20 victory at Paul Brown Stadium, its sixth straight win over the Bengals.
What it’ll be remembered for, though, is how it felt more like a street brawl at times. The NFL responded by suspending Steelers receiver
and Bengals safety for one game each Tuesday, and fines for other players are expected later in the week.
“I’ll acknowledge there were some unfortunate things in that game that we don’t need in our game — by both sides,” Steelers coach said Tuesday.
Bengals linebacker
— a focal point for much of the animosity — left the field on a cart with a concussion after Smith-Schuster leveled him with a blindside hit. The receiver then stood over the fallen linebacker to taunt him.
As Schuster-Smith apologized for taunting after the game, receiver
yelled: “Karma! It’s called karma!”
The NFL’s letter to Schuster-Smith informing him of the suspension said the egregious hit and the taunting “fell far below the high standards of sportsmanship expected of an NFL player.” Also, Steelers linebacker
will remain in a Cincinnati hospital until at least Wednesday to undergo further testing on a spinal injury suffered in the first quarter.
Shazier left Paul Brown Stadium on a stretcher less than four minutes into the game following a tackle that left the 25-year-old writhing on the turf, his legs motionless. He underwent extensive testing overnight, with the team saying Shazier’s injury did not require surgery “at this time.”
The tight
Gronk ban upheld: NFL denied Patriots end appeal of a one-game suspension for a late hit to the head of Bills defensive back
White was face down on the sideline after intercepting a pass Sunday against the Bills when Gronkowski bodyslammed him, driving his forearm into White’s back and head. White went into the concussion protocol.
Extra points: Falcons G will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. The nineyear veteran won’t play Thursday against the Saints because of a triceps injury. Levitre had started 140 consecutive games since entering the league with the Bills in 2009 . ... The Bears placed G on injured reserve for the second straight season. The threetime Pro Bowler has been trying to play through a left shoulder injury he suffered in 2016. He aggravated it during Sunday’s loss to the 49ers and sat out the second half . ... The Texans put TE (concussion) and WR (hamstring) on injured reserve . ... The Broncos placed DE on injured reserve with a neck injury . ... The Bills placed WR (knee) and DE (ankle) on injured reserve.