Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict didn't sugarcoat his words when asked about the team's upcoming AFC wild-card game against the Steelers on Saturday.
“I hate Pittsburgh,” Burfict said after practice Wednesday, via Triblive.com. “It's not personal. That's just the way it is.”
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Burfict has already made himself a top nemesis of the Steelers, especially this season. He was accused by Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster of trying to intentionally injure Le'Veon Bell in Week 8.
Steelers fans and players alike were also incensed when Burfict celebrated Bell's torn medial collateral ligament sustained in the game.
Ben Roethlisberger then said Burfict tried to purposely injure him by tackling the Pittsburgh QB around the legs in Week 14. The NFL agreed and fined Burfict $69,454.
There is no love lost between these division rivals. With the Bengals winning Week 8's contest and the Steelers winning Week 14's, Burfict just added fuel to the fire for Saturday's showdown.