(SportsNetwork.com) - Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for deliberately twisting the ankles of two Carolina Panthers players on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
Burfict was accused by the Panthers of targeting the ankles of quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen after both scored touchdowns.
Replays appeared to show Burfict twisting Newton's ankle and pulling on Olsen's as the players lay in the end zone. Newton had ankle surgery in March and Olsen was limited in practice last week with an ankle injury.
Burfict was not penalized on either play but Olsen said Monday he thought the incidents were "premeditated."
"And I think the punishment needs to go beyond a fine," Olsen said, according to the Charlotte Observer. "Guys like that don't learn from that stuff. He's been fined 100 times for head-hunting, and he did it to (wide receiver) Kelvin (Benjamin) again. You watch the film; it's just what he is."
ESPN.com reported that Panthers coach Ron Rivera sent tapes of the plays to the NFL. Carolina kicker Graham Gano indicated in a tweet he thought a Bengals player was intentionally trying to hurt his teammates and that he hoped the league "lays down the law hard."
Burfict, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season and signed a four-year contract in August worth a reported $20 million. He has 18 tackles in three games this season.
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