Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict suspended for first three games of 2016
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the first three games of next season, the NFL announced Monday night.
Burfict is being suspended for “repeated violations of safety-related playing rules,” according to the NFL.
The linebacker’s latest incident was his hit on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s AFC wild-card game. Burfict hit Brown in the head with his shoulder, drawing a flag for unnecessary roughness, as Brown was deemed defenseless.
The league is also considering fines for Steelers coaches Joey Porter and Mike Munchak, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Burfict was fined four times for safety-related violations during 2015. A four-year pro, Burfict played in 10 regular season games for Cincinnati this season, recording 74 tackles and two interceptions.
Burfict’s agent says he will appeal the suspension.
