Cincinnati Bengals have finally lost their patience with their controversial linebacker Vontaze Burfict. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Bengals decided to cut suspension-prone Burfict on Monday after trying and failing to find a trade partner for the 28-year-old. The team reportedly saved $5.69 million in salary cap space with this move.
Since entering the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent, Burfict earned a reputation for himself as an aggressive and reckless player. He was suspended and fined a number of times for illegal plays while also serving suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
Vontaze Burfict played his college career at Arizona State, where he was regarded as one of the best prospects in the nation until his junior year. Struggles on the field and off-the-field made his draft stocks take a dip and he ended up being undrafted giving Cinncinati Bengals a chance to pick him up without spending a draft pick.
During his seven seasons with the Bengals, Burfict had his up and downs, but showed glimpses of amazing talent in 2013 when he made it to Pro Bowl and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. Last season he played seven games in which he had 33 tackles.
Burfict’s career stats include 604 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions.
