The Cincinnati Bengals linebacker will be out for the first three games of the regular season due to an illegal hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman.
Earlier this offseason, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict did what he does best: break NFL rules for player safety. Perhaps the most egregious offender playing in the NFL today, Burfict earned an initial five-game suspension from the NFL for his hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman during the second preseason game of the year for both teams earlier in August.
Burfict, who has a long history of punishments from the NFL for his on-field behavior, appealed the suspension immediately and the NFL ruled on Thursday, saying he would have his suspension lowered by two games. The change allows him to return on September 25 to the Bengals, immediately after they face the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. NFL’s Vice President of Football Operations, Jon Runyan, provided a statement to the press, which said in part:
"When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player…you must be held accountable for this continuing unacceptable conduct."
You can see the initial hit on Sherman here.
Burfict laid a cheap shot on this seam throw. Look at the right-hand corner. pic.twitter.com/VCjPQQgCoJ
— Ian Valentino (@NFLFilmStudy) August 20, 2017
If you’re new to the NFL or haven’t paid attention to Burfict’s shady NFL career, we’ve gone to the trouble to highlight the linebacker’s most serious antics, from twisting Cam Newton’s ankle after a play was dead to hitting another player in the crotch when simply standing there to aiming for a player’s knees when tackling him.