Vontaze Burfict deserved a suspension.
It is well-understood among football fans that there is plenty of dreadlock-pulling, groin-grabbing, and eye-poking at the bottom of a dog pile. While these are all unjust cheap shots, they generally take place where neither the referees nor the TV cameras can pick upon them and they almost never cause serious injury.
On the other end of the football cheap shot spectrum is the play of Vontaze Burfict. Burfict, who has previously been reprimanded for groin-taps, head-butts, and hitting defenseless receivers, committed two reprehensible acts on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers by twisting the ankles of Cam Newton and Greg Olsen well after each play was over.
On Wednesday, the NFL fined Burfict $25,000 for the ankle twists. This is pocket change for Burfict, who just re-signed for $20 million over four years.
Put in context, it is clear Burfict’s antics warrant a suspension. By letting Burfict off, Goodell has again failed to send a clear message in terms of player safety. There are three big reasons why:
1) It was in plain sight.
Unlike the dogpile situation, where sneakily dirty players get away with it because no one can see them, Burfict committed both of his offenses AS HE WAS TACKLING PLAYERS INTO THE ENDZONE.
Not only can everyone see it. Everyone can see it multiple times from multiple angles.
2) It was premeditated.
There was no question Burfict knew going into the game that both Newton and Olsen have been playing through ankle injuries this season.
Roger Goodell set a very clear precedent during the bounty scandal that any premeditated attempt to take an opponent out of the game would result in severe punishment. In the case of the bounty scandal, there was no single replay that clearly demonstrated the Saints carrying out their bounty targets. If Goodell thought Jonathan Vilma and Scott Fujita needed to be suspended, so too does Burfict.
3) Burfict is a repeat offender.
Not only did he commit this shameless act twice in the same game, he also came into the game with a reputation for deliberately seeking to injure opponents. He was fined $31,000 for hitting a defenseless Greg Jennings last year–another mere slap on the wrist. For Burfict to learn from his actions, he needs to feel the disappointment missing games and letting his teammates down.
One last question to ponder, how would Goodell have reacted if Cam Newton (one of the league’s most marketable QB’s) was injured for 4 games as a result of Burfict’s ankle twisting? I think Burfict would get 4 games too.
By Jack Tiebout