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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has become the center of attention after his vicious block on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Monday night drew a one-game suspension from the NFL.
In wake of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's hit on a defenseless player receiving the same level of punishment, it drove Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to voice his disgruntlement with the league's ruling on the situation, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
Article Continues Below“I didn’t think it was warranted, I thought maybe a fine,” Roethlisberger said of Smith-Schuster’s discipline. “You look at what Gronk did and what JuJu did, they got the same suspension. I don’t know that that’s necessarily fair.”
The play in question saw Smith-Schuster's lay a hard block on Burfict during a 12-yard reception by his teammate Le'Veon Bell. What likely made it appear worse was the fact that Burfict had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. The block that Smith-Schuster executed is now an illegal maneuver due to the league's greater concerns with the player safety over the last several years.
Meanwhile, Gronkowski had clearer intentions with his actions that were made well after the play was over. Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White had rolled out of bounds after he made an interception and was hit by the Patriots All-Pro tight end causing a concussion. Following the game, Gronkowski had even admitted that he allowed for his emotions to get the best of him in that moment.
The issue that has begun to arise from here is the NFL's judgment call each respective situation. With both actions receiving the same length of the suspensions has immediately drawn criticism given what unfolded in each separate instance. Until there is a better level of assessment made by the NFL on these type of matters, it will continue to draw much ire and public outcry.
