CINCINNATI — Following what might be one of the most brutal losses in Bengals franchise history, the NFL suspended controversial linebacker Vontaze Burfict for the first three games of the 2016 regular season.
According to an NFL news release, Burfict was suspended Monday for “repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.”
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NFL Vice President Merton Hanks said Burfict’s hit on Antonio Brown in the final seconds of Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Steelers put Brown at “an unnecessary risk for injury and should have been avoided.”
Burfict is no stranger to safety-related violations. He was fined four times this past season, including a $50,000 fine for unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of play in the Bengals Jan. 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Burfict’s agent told the NFL he plans to appeal the suspension.
