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When the Cincinnati Bengals signed Vontez Burfict as undrafted free agent in 2012, they knew what they were getting. Burfict has been under the microscope since he was in high school and from the way his career has gone, that is precisely where he likes to be. Burfict is again under review from the NFL for a hit in the 4th quarter Sunday on Martellus Bennet.That was not the only play under review; a late touchdown by LeGarrette Blount was followed by Burfict allegedly stepping on the ankle of Blount. The game of football is one that comes with a certain level of anger, aggression and reckless abandonment. With that being said with the NFL focusing on player safety, it is time to drop the hammer on dirty unnecessary plays that could result in players being injured.
Vontez Burfict was a five star recruit out of high school, he played college ball at Arizona State University. His temper got the best of him in 2011; the Preseason All-American was involved in a “Blindside attack” on fellow teammate at the time Kevin Ozier. This type of behavior and other behavior like it, dropped Burfict from a sure first round draft pick, to an unsigned free agent in 2012. Burfict faced a 3 game suspension to start the 2016 season, the result of being a repeat offender after a hit on Antonio Brown earned him league attention. Now you get this week’s hit on Martellus Bennet, which could easily be seen as unnecessary and potentially targeting. That is first and foremost. Secondly with the ball not even being in the area of Burfict or Bennet, the play looks malicious with intent to injure the leg. There is no place for plays like this in football. Later on in the game, coaches’ film showed Burfict stepping down on running back LeGarrette Blount’s leg after a late fourth quarter score.
Burfict’s work ethic has always been visible; in his first year with the Bengals, recording 127 tackles and only being penalized four times. Since that season, Burfict and his wallet have taken a major hit. In fines alone he has had to give $204,875, not to mention the nearly $700,000 he has forfeited in pay. The NFL should hit Burfict and his wallet again this week, and he really has no one to blame but himself. He is getting paid large amounts of money to play a game that others in the league do not want him in. Offensive lineman throughout the AFC North have said this week that “He's endangering others livelihoods, by his reckless play.” The fact of the matter is that the NFL is so concerned with player safety; this man has manifested into a danger for player safety. As a football fan aggression is great, but when it is visible that a player is deliberately trying to injure or potentially end the career of another player(s), a line must be drawn.
A decision on what will happen with Vontez Burfict was made early Wednesday morning, the NFL fined Burfict $75,000 for unnecessary roughness in relation to the LaGarrette Blount incident. One former NFL official called the league gutless, for not suspending Burfict, if the league is really serious about improving player safety, this would have been the type of play that must be eliminated. How does one even go about righting this? The only way you can is to issue a huge fine and suspend the player; simply make an example out of him so that other players in the league will be persuaded to not engage in such tackles. In Burfict’s case, the league came up short, like they have so many times before.
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Written by
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by
Daniel Bishop M.A.
Cody Yocca
References
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2016/09/03/cincinnati-bengals-vontaze-burfict-suspension-officially-begins/89836312/
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17815082/nfl-reviewing-hit-vontaze-burfict-cincinnati-bengals-martellus-bennett-new-england-patriots
https://www.google.com/amp/deadspin.com/nfl-will-review-vontaze-burficts-latest-dirty-hit-1787874962/amp?client=safari
http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7821147/nfl-asu-linebacker-vontaze-burfict-draft-most-misunderstood-player-espn-magazine
http://archive.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/2011/08/07/20110807asu-football-vontaze-burfict-punch-teammate-report.html
https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/vontaze-burfict-cincinnati-bengals-suspension-fines-nearly-one-million-dollars-steelers-011116.amp.html?client=safari
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