Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has missed six games due to a pair of suspensions in the last two seasons. He’s now set to miss another four in 2018 after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing policy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Burfict, 27, is a lightning rod for controversy, but this is his first violation of the league’s PED policy. He was previously suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in the playoffs, and for the first three games of 2017 for a blindside block on a defenseless receiver in preseason.
The linebacker will have the chance to appeal the ruling, and will reportedly claim that the failed test which happened Dec. 27 is the result of medication he was prescribed in December to treat a concussion and a shoulder injury.
The news of a suspension comes just days after a report that a trade to the Oakland Raiders was possibly in the works. Schefter said there are no legs to that report, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Friday that there were “scuttled trade discussions” between the two teams.
Burfict, when healthy and out of trouble, has been a stalwart in the middle of the Bengals defense. He was a Pro Bowler in 2013 and earned the No. 12 grade among linebackers on Pro Football Focus in 2017.
His play earned him a four-year, $42.43 million contract extension in September. But another punishment — if it’s upheld — could also free up the Bengals to move on, as his contract included many safeguards for the possibility that he’d get in trouble again.
If #Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict loses his appeal of a 4-game suspension, the guarantees in his 3-year, $33M contract will void. That’s nearly $11.3M. Which means Cincy can move on if they want to.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2018
The Bengals’ patience has been tested by Burfict. But if his latest punishment stands, it could mean the end of the road in Cincinnati for the linebacker.