Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
Vontaze Burfict was realeased on March 18th, 2019 and is no longer a Cincinnati Bengal |
||
Line 175:
On January 8, 2018, the Cincinnati Bengals announced their decision to hire former [[2017 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions’]] defensive coordinator [[Teryl Austin]] as the new defensive coordinator after the position was left vacant by the departure of Paul Guenther to the [[2018 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengals hire Teryl Austin as defensive coordinator |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000904178/article/bengals-hire-teryl-austin-as-defensive-coordinator |access-date=December 6, 2018 |website=NFL.com |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> On March 16, 2018, Burfict received a four-game suspension for violating the leagues’ policy against [[performance-enhancing drugs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vontaze Burfict facing 4-game suspension for PED violation|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921745/article/bengals-lb-vontaze-burfict-facing-4game-suspension|publisher=NFL|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vontaze Burfict's future with Bengals safe -- for now|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000924144/article/vontaze-burficts-future-with-bengals-safe-for-now|publisher=NFL|accessdate=April 1, 2018}}</ref> Upon his return from suspension, head coach Marvin Lewis named him the starting weakside linebacker. He started alongside Nick Vigil and [[Preston Brown (linebacker)|Preston Brown]].
In Week 6, Burfict delivered a hit to wide receiver Antonio Brown that unintentionally injured Bengals’ teammate [[Jessie Bates III]] and sidelined him for the remainder of their 28–21 loss against the [[2018 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]. On October 20, 2018, Burfict received a $112,000 fine for hits on Antonio Brown and [[James Conner (American football)|James Conner]] that the league considered unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vontaze Burfict fined $112k for hits vs. Steelers |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000976119/article/vontaze-burfict-fined-112k-for-hits-vs-steelers |publisher=NFL|accessdate=October 21, 2018}}</ref> Burfict was inactive for two games (Weeks 8–10) due to a hip injury he sustained during a Week 7 loss at the [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict suffers hip injury vs. Chiefs |url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/10/21/18007740/bengals-lb-vontaze-burfict-suffers-hip-injury-vs-chiefs-sunday-night-football-week-7 |access-date=December 6, 2018 |website=cincyjungle.com |last=Sheeran |first=John}}</ref> On November 13, 2018, the Cincinnati Bengals announced their decision to fire defensive coordinator Teryl Austin after they lost 51–14 to the [[2018 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] in Week 10. Head coach Marvin Lewis stated he would take over duties as defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. On March 18th, 2019 Vontaze Burfict was released by the Cincinnati Bengals after having spent his entire up to that point with the organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengals fire defensive coordinator, Jackson re-joining staff |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181112/sports/311129925 |access-date=December 6, 2018 |website=dailyherald.com}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
| |||