Following the Monday night football game taking place between the Steelers and the Bengals, both Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bengals S George Illoka faced one game suspensions for hits they placed on opposing players in the game.
To many who watched, they noticed this game was well above the average level of violence that usually takes place in NFL games. Several major injuries and big hits later, Illoka and Smith-Schuster are suspended and the Steelers S Mike Mitchell had some words to say on the matter via his twitter account.
So gronk elbow drops a guy off the top rope like Dusty Rhodes and gets same suspension as a guy getting a penalty making a football play. Okay cool @NFL @espn @ESPNNFL can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
— Mike Mitchell (@iammikemitchell) December 5, 2017
He then goes back on to defend Illoka again, focusing on how football needs to be allowed to make these type of plays without worrying about being punished for doing them.
SteelerNation @George_iloka is a good friend. Weve spent many summers training together. HES NOT A DIRTY PLAYER. He’s a Standup guy just a hard nosed no bs player. In no way was he tryna hurt AB just like I know @TeamJuJu wasn’t trying to hurt #55. Football is violent! #Facts
— Mike Mitchell (@iammikemitchell) December 5, 2017
As of his most recent tweet at the publishing of this article, Mitchell claims that the NFL is not at blame, but that the other players in the NFL are for allowing things like this to go on. He says that there is a lack of consistency as to how players are punished, and that it needs to improve.
My real complaint isn’t with the @nfl it’s with my fellow players. How did we agree to this cba? There is no consistency in the way we are disciplined. One week you can commit a foul and be fined the next be suspended. One week a fight is an ejection the next it’s a suspension.
— Mike Mitchell (@iammikemitchell) December 5, 2017
Clearly the players and owners alike are growing tired of the things that are going on with Goodell and punishments from the NFL. As we come closer to the renewing of his contract, all eyes will be on the NFL to see what happens.