Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers LB Vince Williams attempts to clear the air on Burfict threat

Published Nov. 5, 2015 3:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

Steelers linebacker Vince Williams isn't planning to apologize for his since-deleted tweet to Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, but he does want to explain his side of the story.

Williams caused a stir on Monday by threatening Burfict on the heels of Le'Veon Bell's season-ending knee injury. Several Steelers player were not happy with the way Burfict appeared to celebrate after tackling Bell awkwardly, a claim that Burfict has denied.

@VinnyVidiVici98 why wait then u kno were I'm at pic.twitter.com/khEd43nBmf
— Vontaze Burfict (@King55Tez) November 2, 2015

Nonetheless, Williams attempted to clarify his thoughts in a statement to Steelers blog Behind The Steel Curtain:

"First of all, anyone who knows me knows I'm not a thug. I'm also not going to apologize for my words either. I was infuriated by the fact that one of my closest teammates was taken out by a notoriously dirty player. I got conformation [sic] that he was gloating about causing a season-ending injury. I'm confused as to how anyone could be happy about that, especially since they had just gone through the same thing. I was siting [sic] there, the pop (from Bell's knee) was loud, do you know what it's like to see someone you consider a brother to be in pain and to have something they cherish ripped away from them? Then to watch the player that did it smiling about it.

"I'm sure that would make anyone want to punch someone in the face. I shouldn't have taken these feelings to Twitter but I did. If caring about my teammates makes me a villain then I'll be public enemy #1 any day and everyday."

The Bengals and Steelers will meet again in Week 14 on Dec. 13.