Roosevelt Nix refused to talk about Vontaze Burfict in the lead-up to the Steelers' game Monday night at Cincinnati.
That's OK, because the echo from those two clashing again and again on the football field Oct. 22 at Heinz Field is still reverberating through the city.
Nix, the Steelers' 5-11, 248-pound fullback, saw his most extensive action of the season in the team's 29-14 win that day, with most of his 22 snaps assigning him to run full speed into the 6-1, 255-pound Burfict again and again. They are about to reacquaint themselves when the Steelers (9-2) visit the Bengals (5-6) at Paul Brown Stadium, and everyone expects Round 2 of their knock-down, drag-out battle from earlier this season.
"We were able to run the ball efficiently last time against them," Todd Haley said Thursday after practice at Rooney Sports Complex. "We didn’t gouge them by any means. We just handed it off a bunch, and we were able to be efficient when we needed to. Rosie is obviously a big part of that."
The collisions were great and led to some consternation on the part of Burfict, a noted villain among Steelers fans, who kicked Nix in the head after a play early in the game. Burfict was not penalized for the kick but did draw a fine.
But by game's end, Burfict wanted no more of Nix, who helped Le'Veon Bell rush for 134 hard-fought yards on 35 carries. In fact, Burfict, who had made a point of refusing to shake hands with the Steelers' captains before the pre-game coin toss, made sure he gave Nix a respectful tap on the top of the head before exiting the field without acknowledging anyone else.
In his third NFL season, Nix is emerging as one of the game's best blocking fullbacks.
Though his battle with Burfict was one his teammates still love talking about, Nix has earned a reputation among his teammates for his epic collisions.
"I’ve heard it a few times, yes," Ramon Foster told me. "You go back to the huddle and you’re like, ‘Damn, what was that?’ Most of the time it’s Rosie racking somebody. He lives for that. Rosie should be in discussion for Pro Bowl fullback."
Perhaps he should be. Bell leads the NFL in rushing, and his best friend -- the two grew up in the same Columbus, Ohio suburb -- has been a big part of that.
But Nix isn't worried about accolades for himself. He's more than happy to see Bell get those.
"Le'Veon's the best back in the league. I'm not afraid to say that," Nix said. "That's my teammate. That's my friend. I truly believe that. It would make me feel good, knowing that I blocked for him. I'm glad to see that success."
That selflessness is something his teammates notice. A four-time all-conference defensive tackle at Kent State, Nix doesn't have much of a choice. He's never gotten a carry in the NFL. He has four career catches for 21 yards, none of which have come this season. He typically toils in anonymity. Except when he doesn't.
Stephon Tuitt wasn't on the field when Nix and Burfict were clashing back on Oct. 22. But he saw and heard the results.
"You could hear it, not just watch it. I didn’t even have to see it," Tuitt told me. "I could turn around and say hello to my mom and hear that and you already know, that’s Roosevelt Nix and Burfict just hitting each other. That’s how loud it is. They were just clashing, helmet to helmet, touching each other. You wonder how they can do the next play."
The Steelers ran the ball 43 times as a team in that game, gaining 152 yards. But Burfict was pretty much a non-factor, finishing with just two tackles and two assists. His two solo tackles were ninth on Cincinnati's defense.
I asked Nix what it's like to prepare himself to have 15 to 20 full-speed collisions each week. It's simple, really. He'd rather be the hammer than the nail.
"It's football, everybody gets ready in their own way," he said. "I play a position where I hit people and and people hit me. I don't want to get hit, so I bring it before they do."
It goes back to his mentality as a defensive player in college. Despite being on the offensive side of the ball now, Nix still hits like he's tackling a ballcarrier.
"Rosie comes in the game and he’s physical," Maurkice Pouncey told me. "He really goes after guys. You’ve got to see him. You can’t run around him. Linebackers, most of the time Rosie dominates them. Hell, he was a d-lineman converted to a damn fullback, so most of the time, he should win."
