Vontaze Burfict the mentor isn’t exactly something Cincinnati Bengals fans are accustomed to hearing.
But Burfict’s interesting career has taken another unexpected swing this offseason via his assuming a leadership role with the Oakland Raiders.
Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News caught up with Burfict:
“It kind of keeps me sharp on my game. You know, if you’re not talking football, if you’re not thinking about football, then what are we here for. So, like a lot of guys want to watch film with me to see how much I know. At the same time I’m coaching them, I’m coaching myself. I enjoy being a leader and I want all 11 to think the same way when we’re out there so we can all play fast.”
When the Bengals cut Burfict in an initial tone-setting move by Zac Taylor and he went to join Paul Guenther out west, the biggest focal point was how he might mesh with longtime rival Antonio Brown.
Now Burfict and Brown are good friends too.
So far, Burfict’s second chance has been an interesting watch for Bengals fans from afar, though more telling might be how it all shakes out on the field.
