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Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict: Making His Own Rules

By Clinton Ignarski

Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) takes the field prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) takes the field prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Bengals have one of the best defenses in the NFL. They also have one of the best Linebackers in Vontaze Burfict. What is better than Burfict making his own rules.

On September 24th 1990, Vontaze DeLeon Burfict, Jr. was born. Little did anyone know he would become an extraordinary linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. Changing the way the position is played, changing the game and the Bengals organization.

Vontaze is one-third man, one-third machine and one-third primal animal, lets just say a Bengal tiger. He stalks his prey, smells fear, and acts on instincts alone. He is a new breed of linebacker in the mold of Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Ray Lewis and even James Harrison, who mentored him for a year in Cincinnati.

Vontaze is changing the way the game is being officiated. Even though we know this is a collision sport, some even argue a sport of gladiators. He has an impact on almost every play, he plays with the aggression putting his body on the line with every hit he deals out. So maybe Vontaze was born in the wrong generation or the NFL is getting soft.

It seems he’s not out there to hurt anybody, outside of Maxx Williams. He leads with his shoulder, so is it easier for a grown man to stop running or a defenseless wide receiver to lower his arms and protect themselves. If he wanted to he could have taken Antonio Brown’s head straight off.

He is getting penalized for stuff he did in college or for twisting ankles. I thought that’s why they wrap the ankles. He has 401 tackles in 47 games, but he does so much more, he instills fear in the opposition.

Personally some people don’t wear other men’s names on my jersey, but Bengals fans should be buying a #55 jersey for next season. So now they are attempting to suspend him for three games next season. It seems like just plain nonsense, they said it’s a compilation of past personal fouls. He will definitely do so.

Vontaze is arguably the best linebacker in the league. He plays with all his heart, and has the passion of a true warrior. He doesn’t cross the line he puts himself on it. No team wants to face him and every team would love to have him.

The impact he has had on the game is causing change in the rules and making new rules to help or hurt the league. Rules like Tom Brady’s tuck rule, Palmer’s low hits were created with protecting quarterbacks, thanks to strong and sometime dirty defensive players. Now we might have the Vontaze rule, where ejections are based on personal fouls. Vontaze you are a beast never change. Keep stealing those dreams.

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