Storyline: Vontaze Burfict has a history of problematic play. The NFL must take a hard-line approach. Fines and short-term suspensions won’t fix injury-ruined careers. Written by Pete Lillo, Whitehouse Station, NJ
Vontaze Burfict is a talented football player. From his days at Arizona State, to the today with the Bengals, his determination and skill set are indisputable. But while there’s no doubt about the talent he brings to the field, there’s another side to him that keeps rearing its ugly head: Vontaze Burfict is a serial offender of NFL rules.
Courtesy: Sandiegouniontribune.com
Burfict’s flagrant disregard for the safety not only hurt his teams, it also gives the NFL a black eye. What happened on Saturday night in the Wild Card game v. the Steelers was more than hard-nosed football—it bordered on criminal behavior.
Burfict and his reputation have followed him from days at ASU. Although one of the most gifted defensive players in college, he built a reputation (related to on- and off-field behaviors) that caused NFL teams to pass over him in the draft. Yes, he led ASU in defensive plays, but he was also called for 17 personal fouls during his tenure at Arizona State. His run-ins with opposing players, and an inability to manage his temper, led to disciplinary actions–including being benched for a bowl game.
In 2012 the Cincinnati Bengals–a team known for not shying away from players with troubled pasts–signed him as an undrafted free agent. Most scouts recommended otherwise. Why? Burfict likes to lead with his head and often leaves his feet when hitting opposing players – two acts the NFL is desperately trying to remove from the game.
The Bengals rolled the dice, though, and Saturday night they lost. During the AFC Wild Card game Burfict launched himself, helmet first, at a defenseless Antonio Brown. Brown laid on the field, concussed, and clearly shaken from the helmet to helmet blow. Burfict argued his case to the refs, flagged as he was for a personal foul.
Courtesy: pennlive.com
But a 15-yard penalty isn’t enough. From the moment the two teams took to the field, NFL officials and security staff stood at the 50-yard line like patrolmen at a riot scene. As the game wore on, and the situation became more tense, the Burfict hit—even more so than Shazier’s hit on Cincinnati RB Bernard earlier in the game—made for a dire situation.
The NFL–in its continued head-scratching way–suspended Burfict for the first 3 games of the 2016-17 season. That’s more lenient than most fans expected, especially given Burfict’s past. The last time the Bengals and Steelers met he was flagged and fined for three penalties, including a low, flagrant hit on Ben Roethlisberger. And, prior to this season, Burfict was fined over $67,000 for other infractions. Many analysts and fans are now wondering whether fines are effective in curbing this negative behavior.
Burfict will most likely appeal the suspension and, if he does, all eyes will be on the NFL Players Association to see how it handles the appeal. It will also be interesting to see what support, if any, comes from the Bengals.
That brings us to Marvin Lewis, the coach of the Bengals. His success as a coach is documented. Despite injuries, he manages to get the most out of his team on both sides of the ball, testimony to his talent with Xs and Os. But what about accountability for his team’s actions? Is Lewis to blame for some of what has transpired with players like Burfict? Should he be held accountable for how his team chooses to play?
Courtesy: azcentral.com
Some argue that he should be fired. Odds are that’s not going to happen–as long as he keeps winning. But it’s not just the players whose actions need to be scrutinized. As Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field last Saturday (apparent shoulder injury), Bengals fans–although not known to be so hostile–cheered and threw bottles as he was taken into the locker room. The despicable behavior of some hometown fans left other Bengals fans embarrassed.
If the league is truly seeking to rid itself of attempts to injure players, then it needs to take a strong approach when doling out discipline. Players can’t take matters into their own hands. But, unfortunately, that has become an all-too-familiar occurrence in the NFL.
The league needs to be proactive, not reactive. The NFL—its owners, referees and the Players Association—need to commit to a hard-line approach to discipline. Fines, short suspensions, and penalties won’t do anything to fix ruined careers.
