- Vontaze Burfict was reinstated from his 12-game suspension in 2019.
- This was not Burfict’s first suspension that he has served.
- Burfict is set to become a free agent this offseason.
LAS VEGAS — Vontaze Burfict has been reinstated by the NFL after serving a 12-game suspension that ended his season in 2019. Burfict is looking to make his way back to the league this year and attempt to participate for the entirety of the 2020 season.
Burfict has a long history and disgruntled relationship with the NFL for his questionable on-field behavior. Whether not this will continue in 2020 is something on the mind of those betting on the Super Bowl odds for the team he ends up playing for in 2020.
Suspended And Reinstatement
During week four of the 2019 NFL season, in a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the then Oakland Raiders, Raiders Linebacker Vontaze Burfict made one of the most horrifying hits on the football field.
After Colts tight end Jack Doyle pulled in a reception and gave himself up, Burfict came flying in, lowering his helmet and delivered a helmet-to-helmet collision. Shortly after the hit, the NFL had announced that Burfict would be suspended indefinitely for the remaining 12-games of the NFL season.
Since then, the linebacker has been reinstated and is looking to make his way back on an NFL roster after just one season with the Raiders.
“He is serious about coming back and doing things the right way,” Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network relayed from Burfict’s agent, Peter Schaffer.
History Of Suspensions
Vontaze Burfict is far from the “role model” NFL player. He is no stranger to suspensions as this was his third suspension due to on-field behavior.
In 2016 he was suspended for three games after a helmet-to-helmet hit in a playoff game against the Steelers. In 2017 He was hit with a five-game suspension for a hit in the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs. Other than His suspensions he has been hit with 13 total fines in his entire career.
Burfict has paid a total of $5.4 million in fines throughout his eight-year career. The former Bengal has not played a full 16-game season in the NFL since his sophomore season due to suspensions and ejections.
2020 Free Agency
Despite the long list of suspensions, ejections, and fines, and after just one season with the Raiders, Burfict is set to become a free agent this offseason.
“Burfict has spent the entire offseason watching tape, talking to coaches, league executives, other experts about the proper code of conduct to stay in the league,” Pelissero relayed from Schaffer.
There is no question that Burfict has the talent to be a great impact player for any team. He started every game in his career with the Bengals and the Raiders. Burfict even went as far as making the Pro-Bowl roster in 2013. The big question is if there is going to be any team willing to take a chance on him this season as he is a liability.
The other question is whether or not a full season of playing could help shorten the Super Bowl odds for the team he ends up playing for.
Advertising Disclosure
BettingSuperBowl.com may receive a commission from any purchases you make through link on our site. This enables us to offer you the best free content and news about Super Bowl Betting.
Samuel has been writing professionally for 4 years. He comes from a sports writing background where he enjoys writing mostly about basketball and football both professional and collegiate. He is a recent graduate of Florida State University where he majored in Editing, Writing and Media with a minor in Communications. During his free time, you can find him watching or playing sports as well as playing videogames and listening to music.