UPDATED 9/30, 11:50 a.m. ET: Following his conduct, the Oakland Raiders' Vontaze Burfict has been suspended without pay for the rest of the NFL season, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan, who issued the suspension, addressed Burfict in a letter. "Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided," Runyan wrote, adding that the 29-year-old has "continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk."
Earlier Monday, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Burfict was “facing a season-long suspension for his late conduct on field."
In 2017, Burfict appealed a five-game suspension which was “reduced by a neutral arbitrator,” Mortensen noted.
Rapoport says Vontaze will appeal the decision, potentially tomorrow, Oct. 1.
See original story below.
Vontaze Burfict is largely known for his dirty and dangerous plays, and he did not improve his reputation on Sunday.
Early in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts, Jacoby Brissett completed a pass to Jack Doyle for a first down. The tight end was on his knees as he caught the ball, so all Burfict had to do was tap him to end the play. Instead, the linebacker hit Doyle with a hard helmet-to-helmet blow.
Burfict was hit with a personal foul penalty and ejected. Burfict's dirty track record caused an eruption among players, analysts, and football lovers. Some are calling for the NFL to remove Burfict from the league.
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