Heated exchanges often occur in football, and that was evidenced by yesterday's matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and Colorado Buffaloes. From pregame trash talk to pushing referees out of the way, tensions were certainly high during the pivotal Big 12 contest.
A controversial moment was when Kansas defensive lineman Dean Miller tackled star signal-caller Shedeur Sanders. He targeted his knees after he got rid of the ball and could have seriously injured him. It was initially flagged for roughing the passer, but the refs picked up the flag soon after. The play sparked some conversation around the world of football, and ex-NFL running back Le'Veon Bell was not pleased with how Miller lunged at Sanders.
one of the dirtiest plays i’ve seen in a long time .. players like this shouldn’t be in the NFL ever, kinda reminds me of someone else https://t.co/nEjhmHMncc
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) November 24, 2024
Le'Veon Bell calls out Dean Miller for dirty tackle vs. Colorado
Bell, formerly one of the NFL's best tailbacks on the Pittsburgh Steelers, called the hit one of the dirtiest plays he has seen in a long time. He noted that it reminds him of someone else, likely alluding to former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, infamous for delivering the brutal hit many believe derailed his teammate Antonio Brown’s career.
Despite having not played in the league since 2021, Bell has found his name in the headlines on multiple occasions. The two-time All-Pro posts frequently on social media. He also briefly attempted to begin a boxing career, only to express he wanted to make an NFL return earlier this year.
Miller is a redshirt junior who has been a pleasant surprise for the Jayhawks in 2024. The California native leads the team with six sacks, adding 10 tackles for loss and three pass deflections in 11 games. He has been one of the most important pieces on KU's defensive line.
Bell is not the only person who thought Miller's hit was unconventional. Had Sanders not moved his legs at the last second, he might have suffered a serious knee injury. Regardless, Miller was not flagged on the play and Kansas came out victorious.