Is Vontaze Burfict Still In The NFL?
Vontaze Burfict has been a controversial figure in the NFL for his aggressive style of play. Some believe he should be banned from the league, but is he still playing?
Vontaze Burfict’s NFL Career
Vontaze Burfict is a linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Oakland Raiders. In his NFL career, he has been suspended multiple times for various reasons.
Vontaze Burfict’s Early Life and College Career
Vontaze Burfict was born in 1991 in Los Angeles, California. He attended Crenshaw High School, where he was a highly rated recruit. He then played college football for Arizona State University.
Burfict was considered one of the best defensive players in the country while he played for Arizona State. He was named a first-team All-American in 2010, and he led the nation in tackles in 2011.
However, Burfict also developed a reputation for being a dirty player. He was suspended for two games during his junior season for headbutting an opponent. And during his senior season, he was ejected from a game after stomping on an opponent’s head.
Vontaze Burfict’s NFL Career
Vontaze Burfict has had a tumultuous NFL career, full of highs and lows. He was drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, and immediately made an impact on the field. He was named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, and was considered one of the best young linebackers in the league. However, Burfict’s career has been plagued by suspensions and injuries, causing him to miss significant time over the past few years. In 2019, he was released by the Bengals after seven seasons with the team, and he is currently a free agent. Despite his checkered past, Burfict remains one of the most talented linebackers in the NFL, and it is still possible that he could catch on with another team in 2020.
Vontaze Burfict’s Controversies
Vontaze Burfict is a linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. During his time with the Bengals, he was suspended multiple times for various illegal hits and violating player safety rules. He was also released by the Bengals in March of 2019.
Vontaze Burfict’s Concussion Controversy
In 2016, Vontaze Burfict was embroiled in a concussion controversy. He was accused of faking a concussion to avoid being suspended for an illegal hit. Burfict denied the accusation, but the NFL suspended him for the remainder of the season.
Vontaze Burfict’s PED Controversy
In 2016, Vontaze Burfict was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He appealed the suspension, but it was upheld by an independent arbitrator.
This was not the first time Burfict had been in trouble with the league for his on-field behavior. He had previously been fined or suspended for a variety of infractions, including hits to the head and neck area of opponents, late hits, and taunting.
Vontaze Burfict’s Suspension History
In 2016, Burfict was suspended for the first three games of the season for various player-safety violations, including a pre-season hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman.
In 2017, he was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
In 2018, he was suspended for the first eight games of the season for violating the league’s policy on player safety again. This time, his suspension was related to a hit he made on then-Browns receiver Antonio Callaway during a pre-season game.
In 2019, Burfict was suspended for the first 12 games of the season (later reduced to 11) for yet another violation of the league’s player safety rules. This came as a result of a hit he made on Colts tight end Jack Doyle during a Week 4 game.
Vontaze Burfict’s Future
Vontaze Burfict, linebacker for the Oakland Raiders, has had a long and troubled career in the NFL. From suspensions to getting released from teams, Burfict has not had an easy time. Some people think that his career is over, but others believe that he still has a chance to turn things around. Let’s take a look at his future in the NFL.
Vontaze Burfict’s Free Agency
The NFL free agency period is set to begin on March 13, and one of the most interesting names on the open market will be linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Burfict has been a controversial player throughout his career, both for his on-field antics and his off-field issues.
Burfict was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he immediately made an impact on the defense. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team, and he followed that up with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2013. He was again named to the Pro Bowl in 2016, but his career has been marred by suspensions and injuries.
Burfict was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He was also suspended for the first game of the 2017 season for an illegal hit on a Chiefs player in the preseason. In addition to those suspensions, Burfict has also been fined multiple times for hits that have been deemed illegal by the NFL.
Despite all of his off-field issues, Burfict is still considered to be a talented linebacker when he is on the field. He had 90 tackles in just 10 games last season, and he has tallied 743 tackles, 11 sacks, and five interceptions in his career. However, his history of suspensions and injuries will likely make him a risk for any team that signs him in free agency.
Vontaze Burfict’s Retirement
On December 31, 2019, Vontaze Burfict was released by the Oakland Raiders. He had been suspended for the first twelve games of the 2019 NFL season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, and had only played in three games. In his career, he had been suspended a total of twelve times, including four times for illegal hits to opponents. In March 2020, Burfict announced his retirement from the NFL.
