After his conduct on the field following their AFC Wild Card loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend, the NFL has ruled that Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will not start the season with the team, punishing him with a three game suspension.
The suspension comes after the LB struck Antonio Brown on a controversial and crucial play in the fourth quarter that has ultimately left the wide receiver concussed and out for the next game of the playoffs against the Denver Broncos. The play led to the winning field goal, which gave the Steelers the 18-16 last-second win in Cincinnati.
NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks made the ruling and said the hit could have been avoided altogether because of the unnecessary risk of injury towards the player.
Burfict is a repeat offender and was fined four other times just in the past season alone, being responsible for injuring several key players on the Steelers squad in previous games, including star running back Le’Veon Bell back in Week 8, which ended his season prematurely.
Vontaze has three days to appeal the decision, but based on past history, it would be a shock if he got the punishment reduced and/or eradicated.
[Source]