Richard Seymour cheapshots Ben Roethlisberger

In a game where officiating was at its worst, we saw Richard Seymour open-hand punch Ben Roethlisberger in the face.


Some feel Roethlisberger was taunting, some say that Ben deserved it. I don't. I know I'm considered a Roethlisberger supporter, but there is no reason to open-hand punch someone like that.

I can only imagine how everyone would have reacted if it had been Tom Brady or Peyton Manning receiving the punch. I suspect that Seymour is facing a fine or suspension. He deserves a fine and should be suspended for at least one game.

Another thing you have to think about is what if it had been a Pittsburgh Steeler that did that? What if it was Troy Polamalu? What if it was James Harrison or Ryan Clark? Based on the previous fines dealt down to Harrison this year, I imagine he would have been given a max fine and a multiple-game suspension.

Despite the fact that Big Ben has rubbed some people the wrong way over the years with his off-field actions, he did not deserve to get punched like that. Even if he was taunting. Taunting does not equal getting punched in the face.

The act committed by Seymour was both cowardly and uncalled for.

I haven't seen a cowardly act like that in the NFL since Albert Haynesworth stepped on Andre Gurode of the Dallas Cowboys.
The punch also resembled an act committed by LaGarrette Blount when he in college. Blount, then playing for the Oregon Ducks, punched a Boise State player in the face because he was being "taunted."

Again, taunting does not and should not equal getting punched in the face.

How many times have we seen NFL players having over-the-top celebrations? Do they deserve to get a penalty or a talking to? Sure. Do they deserve to get punched in the face? No.

As a Steelers fan, I would like to see Seymour punished severely. Especially considering that the NFL does not tolerate violent acts towards quarterbacks. You are barely allowed to touch quarterbacks during a play, let alone after the whistle.

You may not like Ben Roethlisberger very much, but he didn't deserve that.