(October 16, 2016. Source: Jim Rogash)
As you probably already know, Vontaze Burfict has a fairly long resume of committing dirty, classless plays. Burfict has played in 53 career games and has been fined by the league on 8 separate occasions for a grand total of $805K. And, those are the only times he’s been fined. I’m sure there have been countless times where he’s been let off the hook unpunished. When one hears the name "Vontaze Burfict," they’ll probably think of those dirty plays. He’s in the news once again, this time for his stomp on Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount. As a play ended, you can see Burfict step towards Blount, who’s about to stand up after running the ball, and step on the back of his knee.
Here it is:
Cincinnati’s defense is known to play chippy, always looking to start trouble like this. You’d think the league would be aware of this by now and start legitimately punishing guys like Burfict, but no. Just a slap on the wrist, just another "warning." It’s pretty pathetic, but I’m nowhere near surprised.
Allegedly, the NFL decided not to suspend Burfict due to "lack of evidence." A guy by the name of Tom Brady would beg to differ. As if it couldn’t get any worse, Burfict’s coaches and teammates are on his side, too. HC Marvin Lewis said, "I don't think he meant to do anything. And I've been through it back and forth as big as this board behind me. Hell, if I can see who steps where or whatever. I see him try to step through [the pile] and try to go help [a] teammate. ... Someone from another team has a hand on his teammate's face mask, pushing him in the face, and that's what he's trying to get to. But that doesn't matter - it's done. We'll move on and things will happen the way they happen." Burfict’s stomp on Blount wasn’t his only cheap shot of this game, either. He also hit low on Martellus Bennett after Brady pump-faked to Bennett. Burfict slid directly into Bennett’s knees, obviously trying to take Bennett out in some way. Again, here it is: 
(Source: CBS Sports NFL)
CBS announcer Dan Fouts said that Burfict "lost his balance" on this play, and only "slipped." It's hard to justify this hit, in my opinion. It's a fairly blatant, intentional hit. To say that Burfict slipped is just ignorant.
Burfict’s coaches and teammates also feel that he did no wrong on his hit to Bennett. Marvin Lewis said that he wishes more players would play with that type of "emotion." It depends on how one would define emotion. Though, I’m pretty sure there’s a fine line between emotion and straight up cheap shots. Bengals football, man. Bengals football. Yikes. Kaley Brown @kaley8711
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