LANDOVER, Maryland – The Enquirer confirmed Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended five games for an off-the-ball hit on Kansas City fullback Anthony Sherman in the Bengals’ second preseason game on Aug. 19.
While the league has not formally announced the suspension, The Enquirer learned Burfict was disciplined for violating two rules:
Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7 (a) (2): Players in a defenseless posture
Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6 (g): Unnecessary roughness
The Enquirer also confirmed that the linebacker is appealing and has a hearing with the league on Tuesday with appeals officer James Thrash. Thrash began serving as an NFL and NFLPA on-field discipline officer in 2015. He was a wide receiver in Washington and Philadelphia from 1997-08.
In 2016, Burfict’s appeal of his three-game suspension was heard by appeals officer and former Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks, who upheld the penalty without a reduction.
Burfict and the club learned about the suspension before they left for its third preseason game on Friday, Aug. 25.
The news of the suspension broke publicly as the Bengals were returning from Washington D.C., and the team quickly responded with a statement after landing in Cincinnati at about midnight on Monday morning, intimating they felt the suspension was due to the appearance of helmet-to-helmet contact:
“The Bengals are aware of the NFL’s letter to Vontaze regarding a play in last weekend’s game. The film shows that the hit was legal, that Vontaze engaged his opponent from the front, and that contact was shoulder-to-chest. The Club will support Vontaze in the appeal process.”
