Bengals, Steelers mix it up in pregame scuffle

CINCINNATI - The bad blood between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals was flowing even before the game began.

Referees had to separate the two teams after a scuffle at midfield during warmups about 45 minutes before Sunday’s big AFC North game. It wasn’t clear if any punches were thrown, but tempers were clearly flaring as players pushed and shoved and yelled at each other.

Longtime Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict appeared to exchange words, and Cincinnati defensive tackle Domata Peko quickly joined in. Other players from both teams then joined the fray, before referees and staff moved in to separate the players.

The pregame antics hardly came as a surprise. The rivalry between the two teams has ratcheted up in recent years as the Bengals have emerged as a power in the AFC North, and the Steelers are still fuming about their Nov. 1 loss that cost them running back Le’Veon Bell.

Bell tore his MCL during the game, and Steelers linebacker Vince Williams, in particular, took issue with Burfict’s gleeful reaction to the injury.

Players sniped back and forth in the lead-up this week. Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, who isn’t even playing as he recovers from a foot injury, stirred things up further before the game by posting profane Tweets directed at Pittsburgh.

Follow Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

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