Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will be suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season as a result of repeated violations of player safety rules.
Burfict has committed a litany of infractions, many involving cheap shots against opponents, and the last straw was a hit in Saturday’s playoff loss to the Steelers that gave Antonio Brown a concussion.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks imposed the suspension.
The NFL has also confirmed that Burfict was fined $50,000 for a cheap shot he took at Ravens tight end Maxx Williams in Week 17. That hit was largely overlooked until Burfict’s hit on Brown brought his history of cheap shots back into focus.
Burfict has three days to file an appeal. The NFL has also stated that the actions of other players and coaches from the Steelers-Bengals game are being reviewed for potential discipline.
