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Burfict Suspended five games


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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/08/28/report-vontaze-burfict-facing-a-five-game-suspension/

 

 

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Report: Vontaze Burfict facing a five-game suspension

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 28, 2017, 5:30 AM EDT

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Burfict tackling Sherman, but not the play that got him suspended.

Getty Images

Vontaze Burfict was suspended the first three games of last season for violating player safety rules, and he could be facing an even longer ban this year.

Per multiple reports, the Bengals linebacker is facing a possible five-game suspension for an illegal hit against Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman earlier this month.

 

This one is for violating a new rule that protects players players running pass routes, pulling them within the scope of defenseless players.  Burfict also violated another new rule this year that says every time he bumps into a player who falls down and goes boom, Burfict will be suspended and Steeler, Mike Mitchell, will be lauded for playing and I quote, "Good ol' Steeler footbaawwwlll", unquote, for the same play.

 

Burfict is appealing and has a hearing next week, and the Bengals are supporting him, issuing a statement saying they are “aware of the NFL’s letter to Vontaze regarding a play in last weekend’s game.” Added the Bengals: “The film shows that the hit was legal, that Vontaze engaged his opponent from the front, and that contact was shoulder-to-chest. The Club will support Vontaze in the appeal process.”

The veteran linebacker would lose $882,353 in game checks if the suspension stands.  Cincinnati Jack casino stands to lose $882,353 in gaming table receipts if the suspension stands, also.

Burfict’s playoff hit on Antonio Brown in 2015 triggered his last suspension, and he’s been fined nearly $800,000 for 16 unnecessary roughness penalties and one for dancing with a mailman.

He’d miss games against the Ravens, Packers, Browns, and both games against the Stealers if the suspension stands.  Which it will.

 

In other Bengal news, head coach Marvin Lewis is expected to announce his five year extension that was agreed to last November at any time.  Marvin is quoted as saying "Its only for the continuity of the team and my favorite color is blue".  When asked to comment, team owner, Mike Brown, is quoted as saying, "Huh?  What?  Hello?  Will someone answer the phone?  Bob Trumpy, is that you?  What?  Katie, that's the last time I'm going to bail Boi Toy Troy out for hanging around a Kindercare and asking little girls to pull his finger.  What?  Who?  Randy Dolphin?  Never heard of him.  Hello?  Oops.  I think I just loaded my Depends™".  Thank you, Mike Brown.

 

 

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The NFL is on borrowed time regardless.  The whole concussion thing is going to bring it down.  After the last study which showed 111 of 112 ex NFL players had CTE, the lawyers will be lining up for a huge payday.  If a company can be sued and lose because it bought a company 20 years AFTER it quit making asbestos you can bet the NFL sees the writing on the wall.  This is just window dressing for the league to proclaim, "See, we take this stuff seriously"  which we know isn't true. 

 

It was great while it lasted. 

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48 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

I will start by saying that 5 games is a stupid number.  I will also say this crap goes on all the time, but since it's the league whipping boy they are going to pounce on him.  Throw in the fact that it's the Bengals with one of the smallest fanbases in the league, so who cares if they suffer?

 

On the other hand, this is the kind of hit Burfict has to stop making.  It's similar to the Brown hit in that it wasn't necessary.  The ball was way over his head and Burfict just took the opportunity to pop a guy.  Just like he did with Brown, but he happened to get him in the head.  This kind of hit should be policed.  But, it should be applied equally across the league.  As mentioned, a guy like Mike Mitchell is a pro at this stuff.  Goodell has been a train wreck with his judgement on suspensions and if he won't give up that power there will be a strike in a couple years.

 

At the end of the day Burfict has to know he's a target and everything he does will be watched.  He has to stop that shit.  Period.

Unless the rules were changed this year, then you're allowed to bump, block, or take to the ground with a legal hit anyone that is within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage on a pass play.

This "kind of hit" DOESN'T need to be policed, as there is nothing illegal about it. You say it wasn't necessary, but that hit is delivered so that when someone is running a crossing route close to the line of scrimmage, they remember the last time they did and they got thumped.

 

Burfict IS responsible for his reputation of being dirty, because he's earned it... but this targeting of him by the league is what has to stop.

 

No way was that illegal, and this suspension is pure and utter bullshit.

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9 minutes ago, USN Bengal said:

Unless the rules were changed this year, then you're allowed to bump, block, or take to the ground with a legal hit anyone that is within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage on a pass play.

This "kind of hit" DOESN'T need to be policed, as there is nothing illegal about it. You say it wasn't necessary, but that hit is delivered so that when someone is running a crossing route close to the line of scrimmage, they remember the last time they did and they got thumped.

 

Burfict IS responsible for his reputation of being dirty, because he's earned it... but this targeting of him by the league is what has to stop.

 

No way was that illegal, and this suspension is pure and utter bullshit.

Apparently, it is a new rule.  From ESPN:

 

"Burfict, a repeat offender, hit the running back in a defenseless posture, sources said. It is a new rule the NFL is implementing this season to protect the player who can't protect himself, and it will hurt Burfict and the Bengals. "

 

It isn't a necessary hit.  No more necessary than a crack back block.  It's an intimidation hit and the league is trying to get those out of the game. 

 

Fair or not, Burfict has to know he is a target and needs to be smart and adjust. 

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21 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

Apparently, it is a new rule.  From ESPN:

 

"Burfict, a repeat offender, hit the running back in a defenseless posture, sources said. It is a new rule the NFL is implementing this season to protect the player who can't protect himself, and it will hurt Burfict and the Bengals. "

 

It isn't a necessary hit.  No more necessary than a crack back block.  It's an intimidation hit and the league is trying to get those out of the game. 

 

Fair or not, Burfict has to know he is a target and needs to be smart and adjust. 

So... being a rule that doesn't make sense is why it should be fought.

 

Football is a violent game, with the players knowing that going into it. This is STILL utter bullshit, because they should also take into account that all these players have it in their instincts to hit that person. So let's say the guy has been playing football for 15 years... a new rule comes out and they expect him to break a 15 year habit with the flip of a switch?

 

Bullshit... and I'll bet if you look through game film of every team in the league you'd see that Burfict isn't the only players to do this.

 

You are correct that Burfict has to know he is a target, but you also have to allow for human fallacy.

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30 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

Apparently, it is a new rule.  From ESPN:

 

"Burfict, a repeat offender, hit the running back in a defenseless posture, sources said. It is a new rule the NFL is implementing this season to protect the player who can't protect himself, and it will hurt Burfict and the Bengals. "

 

It isn't a necessary hit.  No more necessary than a crack back block.  It's an intimidation hit and the league is trying to get those out of the game. 

 

Fair or not, Burfict has to know he is a target and needs to be smart and adjust. 

Did you read my earlier post or read what the new rule actually states? If you did and saw the play, you would realize that it was not illegal according to the new rule. 

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36 minutes ago, USN Bengal said:

So... being a rule that doesn't make sense is why it should be fought.

 

Football is a violent game, with the players knowing that going into it. This is STILL utter bullshit, because they should also take into account that all these players have it in their instincts to hit that person. So let's say the guy has been playing football for 15 years... a new rule comes out and they expect him to break a 15 year habit with the flip of a switch?

 

Bullshit... and I'll bet if you look through game film of every team in the league you'd see that Burfict isn't the only players to do this.

 

You are correct that Burfict has to know he is a target, but you also have to allow for human fallacy.

The NFL could give a shit about human fallacy.  They are about money.  I agree other do this.  I agree it isn't totally fair.  He is a target and they are going to make an example of him.

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10 minutes ago, Rumble In the Jungle said:

The NFLPA needs to step in. Vontaze has rights. That play was never even flagged. I'm glad he's appealing. I hope the NFL loses this one for sure.

Do they have an independent group doing the appeals yet?  If not, nothing will change. 

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40 minutes ago, Hooky said:

Did you read my earlier post or read what the new rule actually states? If you did and saw the play, you would realize that it was not illegal according to the new rule. 

I had not read the specifics in your link. 

 

The receiver definitely was defenseless.  Looking at QB. 

 

Pretty close on whether the hit was from the side or in the front.  Burfict got the front of the shoulder.  Pretty much like a crack back block.  They do have a problem with those three points.  It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out, but when has Goodell ever backed down?

 

I have no problem saying that is an illegal hit.  Don't hit people you don't have to hit.  It's a change, but in line with the other changes made in the league.

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1 minute ago, Jason said:

Do they have an independent group doing the appeals yet?  If not, nothing will change. 

This.  They may reduce it a game or two, but no way they win.  Goodell has the power.  The NFLPA gave it to him and it was held up in court in the Brady case. 

 

 

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1 minute ago, T-Dub said:

 

Not gonna happen when we're all still buying tickets and merch.   It's going to be more of the same until people start tuning out.  

It's not dying any time soon.  I do believe the NFL has seen it's peak.  The next TV deal will probably be for less. 

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Vontaze Burfict says illegal hit he's being suspended for was a clean one

 Frank Schwab,Shutdown Corner 
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  Vontaze Burfict  (NFL file photo)

 

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a five-game suspension, but the Cincinnati Bengals have his back.

The team put out a statement on Sunday night that they did not feel the hit in question on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman was dirty. Then the team’s website had a quote from Burfict saying that not only did he feel the hit was clean, Sherman told him during the game it was clean.

“I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best,” Burfict told Geoff Hobson of the team’s site, referring to his appeal of the five-game suspension. “I feel like I’ve let down my teammates, but I also feel like I’ve done a good job with this. I only had one personal foul last year. We feel like this was a legal hit. I hit him in the shoulder. I hit hard, so it may have looked like I hit him in the head, but it was the shoulder. I helped him up and he said he was good and I asked if he was good on the next series and he said, ‘Yeah, that was a legal hit.’

“The rules say you can eliminate a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage as long as you don’t hit him in the head and I don’t think I hit him in the head,” Burfict said.

 

The NFL’s issue is likely that Sherman was a defenseless receiver. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith threw the ball downfield, and at the same time Burfict decked Sherman near the line of scrimmage even though he wasn’t part of the play.

“The Bengals are aware of the NFL’s letter to Vontaze regarding a play in last weekend’s game,” the Bengals said in a statement, via the team’s site. “The film shows that the hit was legal, that Vontaze engaged his opponent from the front, and that contact was shoulder-to-chest. The Club will support Vontaze in the appeal process.”

Also, Burfict doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt. His history of borderline or simply dirty hits is well documented. Last season he missed the first three games due to a suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Stealers receiver Antonio Brown. That was the penalty that set up a Stealers game-winning field goal in a Bengals playoff collapse. Brown missed the Stealers’ next playoff game, a loss to the Denver Broncos, with a concussion.

We’ll see if the NFL reaches out to Sherman to gauge what he felt about Burfict’s hit, and whether the NFL will consider that in Burfict’s appeal.

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1.  The NFL is not hurting or dying in any way.

 

2.  None of you are "breaking up with" the NFL.  If you were then you would not be here.

 

3.  Burfict does have a history of cheap shots, stomping, and leg twisting.  He has brought this scrutiny on himself.

 

4.  This particular hit did not look dirty at all and it is BS if he is suspended for it.

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