The Vontaze Burfict era in Cincinnati is finally coming to an end. The Bengals released Burfict on Monday in a move that came about three years too late, as the controversial linebacker has spend his NFL career embarrassing the organization with his on- and off-field antics.
Burfict was fined or suspended by the league 11 times during his Bengals career, which spanned from 2012 to 2018. In total, the infractions cost him 10 games and roughly $4.12 million. That’s about $687,169 lost per season.
Being a dirty player is costly, kids.
With Burfict’s time with the Bengals coming to an end, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look back at all of the incidents that got him into trouble…
December 2018: Fined $53,482 for lowering his helmet against Devner’s Andy Janovich
October 2018: Fined $112,000 for hit to head area against Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown and James Conner
March 2018: Suspended 4 games for violating the league’s PEDs policy, forfeiting $1,839,361
There is obviously no video of this happening.
October 2017: Fined $12,154 for kicking Pittsburgh’s Roosevelt Nix
August 2017: Suspended 3 games for hit on a defenseless receiver vs. Kansas City, forfeiting $1,400,469
November 2016: Fined $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Buffalo
October 2016: Fined $75,000 for stepping on New England’s LeGarrette Blount
January 2016: Suspended 3 games for excessive hit to a defenseless receiver (Antonio Brown), forfeiting $502,941
December 2015: Fined $69,454 for combination of unsportsmanlike conduct plays against Pittsburgh
Yes, the league fined Burfict for basically his entire game against the Steelers. Here are two plays that were considered dirty.
The first is a late hit on Roethlisberger…
The second is a push that came well after the whistle…
October 2014: Fined $25,000 for ankle-twisting against Carolina’s Cam Newton and Greg Olsen
November 2013: Fined $21,000 for spearing the Jets’ Stephen Hill
Had Burfict just avoided playing the Steelers, he would have saved himself about $1.55 million in fines.
