Bengals' Burfict Suspended For Violations

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season for repeated violations of player-safety rules, the NFL announced Monday night. The fourth-year player will appeal, a source told ESPN's Adam Caplan.

In a news release, the league cited Burfict's most recent transgression -- an unnecessary roughness penalty with 22 seconds remaining in Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers -- as the tipping point. On the play, Burfict hit Steelers receiver Antonio Brown after Brown couldn't catch a high pass from Ben Roethlisberger. Brown currently is under the concussion protocol because of the hit.

NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks imposed the suspension. Hanks' ruling was that Burfict's action "placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided."

If the ban is upheld, it will cost Burfict $502,941 of his 2016 base salary, and he will have forfeited $647,395 since just before the 2014 season, when he signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension.

Steelers Roethlisberg Will Likely Play Sunday

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is likely to play Sunday in the divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, but it is "not looking good" for wide receiver Antonio Brown, sources told ESPN's Bob Holtzman.

Roethlisberger and Brown both suffered injuries Saturday in Pittsburgh's AFC wild-card round victory over the rival Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers have not publicly commented on either player's status for Sunday's game in Denver.

The Steelers believe Roethlisberger suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, according to ESPN and NFL Network. The star quarterback said Sunday that he was sore and labeled himself as day-to-day.

Brown is in the NFL concussion protocol after taking a hit from Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Pittsburgh's game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

Saturday, January 16 Schedule (All Times Central)

Kansas City at New England, 3:35 p.m.

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

Green Bay at Arizona, 7:15 p.m.

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

Sunday, January 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

Seattle at Carolina, 12:05 p.m.

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

Pittsburgh at Denver, 3:40 p.m.

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF