Steelers receiver Antonio Brown hasn’t seen linebacker Vontaze Burfict since a postseason hit from Burfict ended Brown’s season, as a practical matter. Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell hasn’t seen Burfict since a hit from Burfict ended Bell’s season much earlier than the playoffs. As Burfict prepares to see both of them, he downplayed the existence of any problems with either player.
“We’re cool. No hard feelings,” Burfict said regarding Bell, via Bengals.com. “Last year was last year. People say what they say. I hit him perfectly. He tried to keep his feet going. He got hurt. I talked to him since his injury. I told him I’m happy to see him back running. I told him he’s going to come back strong.”
Burfict also has buried the hatchet with Brown.
“I saw him one night at the club,” Burfict said. “I shook his hand and I wanted to say something to him, but the music was too loud. It’s football. You’re going to get hit. He’s a good dude. It’s football. No hard feelings. I was trying to make a play on the ball.” (Brown remembers the exchange differently; he says Burfict apologized.)
Regardless of any apologies made in the past, Sunday’s game could require even more eventual apologies. Because football means always having to say you’re sorry. Or something.
