Yardbarker
x
How does the NFL solve a problem like Vontaze Burfict?
Vontaze Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals has again found himself in trouble with the league over his rough style of play, this time ending with a fine and not a suspension. John Grieshop/Getty Images

How does the NFL solve a problem like Vontaze Burfict?

The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-4 just six weeks into the season, but they may have another pressing issue with their struggling defense. Vontaze Burfict was suspended for the first three games of this season and made it through two games without any issues of note and then, when the Bengals traveled to Foxboro and faced off against the New England Patriots, Burfict couldn’t seem to play nice with the Patriots offensive players.

Burfict stomped on running back LeGarrette Blount’s leg well after the play had ended and dove at or below the knee of tight end Martellus Bennett despite the fact that he wasn’t the target on the play.

Burfict has had issues dating back to his time at Arizona State, but Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther have looked past those issues and allowed Burfict to become a leader on the team, understandably so. He led the Bengals in tackles and made the Pro Bowl in 2013. The issues he had on and off the field while at Arizona State dropped him from being a potential first round pick to being an undrafted free agent.  

His ascent to stardom is nothing short of remarkable and he’s an incredible athlete, but he has joined a club that is far less celebrated than the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl winners. He’s joining a club with members including Albert Haynesworth, Bernard Pollard, and Ndomukong Suh. All amazingly talented defensive players who have a reputation for being dirty at best and filthy if we are being reasonable.

Haynesworth’s most memorable accomplishment is a toss up between leaving the Titans for $100 million (although he’s quick to point out he took less to go to Washington because the Buccaneers offered him $135 million) and him stomping on Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode's face that resulted in Gurode needing 30 stitches to repair the damage . Pollard was insanely talented, but he couldn’t seem to shake the nickname “Patriots Killer.” He was known for his hard hit on Stevan Ridley, for being involved on the tackle where Wes Welker tore his ACL, Rob Gronkowski sprained his ankle after being tackled by Pollard, and probably most notable of all, Tom Brady missed almost the entirety of the 2008 season after a torn ACL/MCL due to a hit from Pollard.

Suh hasn’t had as many notable issues since signing with the Miami Dolphins, but his stomp of Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith and his  questionable step on the ankle of Green Bay’s quarterback Aaron Rodgers still hold a spot in most people’s thoughts when it comes to his talent versus the desire to have him play on their favorite team.  

Burfict has a rap sheet that is equal to or greater than all three of these guys combined and yet, the NFL chose to fine him $75,000 rather than to suspend him again. How does this make sense? Burfict has been fined several times for his unsavory acts and then the NFL decided to suspend him for three games after his hit on Antonio Brown last year, but now, they’re back to fining him? He has already paid roughly $650,000 in fines (including his game checks from his suspension this season) and with this fine is added in, it climbs to $725,000. At what point is it clear that fining Burfict is not the answer and that some other punishment is needed?

Punishments typically escalate in severity, but this seems like a step back on the escalation scale. As former head of officials Mike Pereira said, “if it’s a large fine and not any games, they don’t have any guts.” The NFL has yet to show they have a firm grasp on punishment regarding instances where there isn’t a prior precedent set and this is no exception. A player who was fined for twisting the ankles of Cam Newton and Greg Olsen, who was responsible for knocking out three Pittsburgh Steelers players in 2015, and had received fines for multiple instances that contribute to his reputation as one of the dirtiest players in football.

The Bengals focused on not making mistakes that could potentially cost them games this offseason. This was a huge focal point from Marvin Lewis all the way down the roster and it looked like it was paying off. Burfict has 14 unnecessary roughness/personal foul penalties since joining the league, some of which have cost the Bengals wins at key points in the season – kind of like that playoff game against Pittsburgh that sent the Bengals home sooner than expected.

The NFL has a problem with incorrigible people and Burfict is the poster child. The fact that it fined Burfict $75,000 is meaningful, but not when considering the context of the already issued penalties. The NFL needs to have harsher penalties when it comes to repeat offenders, especially given the suggestion that the league cares about players' safety. It stands to reason that Olsen, Newton, Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisberger, Brown, Bennett and Blount would feel like the NFL is just saying what they think people want to hear rather than letting their actions coincide with their words.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.