Vontaze Burfict’s wallet got a lot lighter this week. But the league is still condoning his actions enough to let him play. The Cincinnati Bengals’ linebacker has been fined by the league $75,000 but will not be suspended for stomping on LeGarrette Blount Sunday.
It’s the largest non-suspension fine he’s ever received, surpassing his $69K penalty from December of…last year. Dave Bryan posted the clip of it yesterday but if you missed it, here’s what Burfict is being fined over.
Burfict was not fined for his low hit on Martellus Bennett.
Ramon Foster talked about the need to get Burfict out of the game, and I’m sure this “message” the league is sending won’t be seen as punishment enough.
“It’s frustrating to continue to see that go on,” Foster told 93.7 The Fan. “For one, I just can’t understand the mentality of him and two, those are the same things that he’s been doing for a while.”
Marvin Lewis somehow found the ability to defend Burfict’s actions, per this tweet from ESPN’s Ed Werder.
Incredibly, this is the 7th fine Burfict has received since entering the league in 2012. He’s been fined twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, once for “ankle twisting” (another variation of unsportsmanlike), once for striking a player in the groin, a spearing call, and hitting a defenseless receiver. And a partridge in a pear tree.
In his career, he’s been penalized 26 times. Twelve of those have been for unnecessary roughness, two for personal fouls, and one more for roughing the passer.
Despite that checkered history, and how egregious his actions were Sunday, he’ll suit up for the Bengals this weekend.
So to recap.
Team accounts posting GIFs of highlights? No way.
Letting someone clearly trying to injure every player on the field? Totally kosher.
