The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2016 NFL season ready to redeem themselves amid a shocking exit from last seasons playoffs. The Bengals had the game wrapped up before unraveling on national television with unfathomable penalties that presented the Pittsburgh Steelers the opportunity for an epic comeback to advance to the AFC divisional round. The comeback is in due large part to the barbarous hit by linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
The Bengals had the ball with a 16-15 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. This would typically result in a victory with the team running the clock out, although – in typical Bengals fashion – that wasn’t the case.
Ben Roethlisberger was pulled from the game earlier after a ferocious sack by Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict that limited Roethlisberger’s throwing arm. However, Big Ben returned to the field for the final 1:23 left in the game to lead the Steelers on their game-winning drive. Despite time running out, the Steelers converted short passing plays due to Roethlisberger’s injuries but it seemed that a field goal would be out of reach.
This is where the Bengals lost their common sense, similarly to the way running back Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball when milking the clock.
Burfict laid a malicious hit on an airborne Antonio Brown - who was the definition of a defenseless receiver. It was blatant enough for the officials to call a 15-yard penalty on the play which also stops the clock, too. This would set up a 49-yard field goal for Steelers rookie kicker Chris Boswell. Talk about high pressure for a young kid. But even that wasn’t enough for the Bengals as the ever-so-troubled Adam “Pacman” Jones would be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct which gave Boswell a 32-yard field goal opportunity to seal the deal.
This is just brutal pic.twitter.com/hBsIAJIBwO
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) January 10, 2016
The kick was made and the Bengals, not winning a playoff game since 1991, were embarrassed to an entire new level. The meltdown is perhaps the worst of all time in the NFL playoffs and linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended three games to begin the 2016 season due to his vicious hit.
The game itself created controversy and broke the internet, although the talk pertaining to Burfict became serious. He’s labeled as a dirty player that is on the field head hunting his opponent seeking every opportunity to lay hits with cruel force. He is the best player on a solid team that is certainly contending for the AFC North division as well as the Super Bowl. Yet, his image reflects poorly on the Cincinnati Bengals as an organization.
As ferocious and feared the talented inside linebacker is on the field, his “passion” is questioned with “fury” and his “heart” is questioned by “hate” but it won’t stop Burfict from competing at a high level in 2016. After his three-game suspension, that is.
“They might think that how I am on the field is how I am off the field, and they’re totally wrong. I’m just competitive and I want to win,” Burfict said. “My job is get to the ball carrier down. That’s what I’m going to do at 110 percent.”
That is the mindset Bengals fans appreciate the star of their defense having amid the reactions, and even threats, his hit received. Simply move on from the situation while learning from it at the same time.
Burfict started all 10 regular season games he appeared in for the Bengals last season and his statistics were great. He totaled 57 tackles and a sack while adding two interceptions as well. Burfict ranked No. 3 on the team in tackles, only trailing Dre Kirkpatrick and Vincent Rey who both played in all 16 games compared to Burfict’s ten.
Albeit Burfict is suspended for a few games to begin the 2016 NFL season, his role has never been larger as he certainly evolved into an enforcer for the Bengals defense. The team acquired former Cleveland Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby to help bring some veteran leadership to the team and they still have Rey Maualuga and Vincent Rey at the position as well. It’s a core that is expected to be the key to the Bengals defense and it certainly begins with Burfict.
He is well-respected throughout the organization and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther even said he will hire Burfict as a coach when his playing career is finished. However that time will arrive much sooner if the Cincinnati linebacker doesn’t change his reckless style of play as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advised in their February meeting.
With the offense undergoing significant changes due to former offensive coordinator Hue Jackson accepting a head coaching position up north with the Cleveland Browns, the defense will be relied on drastically in 2016. Vontaze Burfict has asserted himself into a leadership role due to his talent and performance on the field. As long as he can play with a concious for human life, he should without a doubt be a Pro Bowler and put up yet another impressive season with the Cincinnati Bengals as they compete for a Super Bowl in 2016.
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