It was only natural Vontaze Burfict’s name was going to come up.
When the fight between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers went down Thursday night — with suspensions that have a big impact on the Cincinnati Bengals — Burfict started trending on social media.
It isn’t hard to see why the former Bengals and current Oakland Raiders linebacker came up. He was suspended for the year after a hit on Sept. 29.
Burfict spoke out this time by giving a lengthy interview about the situation with Vic Tafur of The Athletic:
“The NFL had to suspend somebody for that last night, since that wasn’t a football act. My suspension was a football act,” Burfict said. “I was hitting somebody. I wasn’t taking a helmet off and swinging it at somebody.”
He continued, noting he turned the game off so his daughters wouldn’t see it: “I don’t want them to see that. Because that’s not what I do. That’s not part of football. I hit people on the field during the game. And they say that’s dirty, yeah, whatever. I get hit, too, during the games, so don’t complain. It’s football, bro.”
Burfict also had some choice words for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and those involved with the decision-making process that resulted in his season-ending ban.
While the former Bengals linebacker said he’s a target and he can’t change the media narrative around him no matter his off-field work, Burfict added he’ll attempt to make a return to the league next season.
