Vontaze Burfict, Doug Baldwin each fined $12K for flipping the bird
The NFL has fined Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict again, but this one had nothing to do with questionable play on the field.
Burfict and Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin each were fined $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct after TV cameras caught them delivering a middle-finger salute in separate games last week.
In Burfict’s case, he directed his digit towards fans in Cincinnati late in the Bengals’ 16-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills — an apparent sign of frustration from Burfict, who served a three-game suspension to start this season for repeat violations of the NFL’s player safety rules. He also was fined $75,000 last month for an apparent stomp on a New England Patriots player.
Burfict wasn’t fined for a seemingly late hit to Bills receiver Robert Woods’ knee in last weekend’s game.
Baldwin flipped off Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who called on Baldwin to pass instead of catch the ball in the red zone. The play worked out — Baldwin connected with Russell Wilson for a 15-yard TD, breaking things open in their win over the Philadelphia Eagles — and Baldwin said later it was meant in good fun.
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