Vontaze Burfict fined $75,000 by NFL, escapes suspension

The NFL doesn’t like dirty hits, and it definitely doesn’t like when players violate any of their rules multiple times.

So why did the league go so easy on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict?

All week, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport was reporting there would be no suspension for Burfict. So the NFL wanted everyone to know from the beginning of the week what the outcome would be, long before it was official. And there was no suspension. Pro Football Talk said Burfict was fined $75,000 for stomping on New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount’s leg, but nothing for a dirty hit on an unsuspecting Martellus Bennett. The league deemed that legal because the ball was arriving when Burfict dove at his legs, PFT said.

Again, the league decided immediately there would be no suspension, although it obviously decided Burfict stomped on Blount’s leg – hence the large fine. Rapoport tweeted on Monday and again on Tuesday there would be no suspension though. Why was the league going out of its way to protect Burfict? Burfict has shown he is unable to play the game without incidents like these. He was suspended the first three games of this season for his dirty hit on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in a playoff game. It’s far from the first time Burfict has been in trouble for illegal hits. While $75,000 is a hefty fine, Burfict seems lucky to have escaped this latest incident without suspension.

Burfict will continue to play, and we should probably be on the lookout for more dirty plays from him. Whether the league does anything about the next incident remains to be seen.