The Vontaze Burfict-to-Oakland rumors turned out to have legs. The Raiders met with Burfict on Tuesday and are signing the veteran linebacker, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report (Twitter link). It’s a one-year, $2MM deal that includes $300K guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears.
Despite a polarizing reputation, the 28-year-old linebacker could roughly earn up to $5MM on this deal, Rapoport tweets. Incentives are involved, and it’s unclear yet how much of $5MM figure for which those account.
A day after the Bengals released him, Burfict will receive another chance. He will reunite with DC Paul Guenther in Oakland and be in position to be one of the Raiders’ first-string linebackers. While Burfict has often lined up on the outside in past Guenther schemes, the Raiders plan for him to play middle linebacker and have Tahir Whitehead stay outside, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM tweets. Burfict called Guenther soon after being cut, he said (via Vic Tafur of The Athletic, on Twitter).
The new Raider, obviously, comes with a controversial past. He is a perpetual suspension risk, having paid more than $4MM in fines.
Burfict has not played more than 11 games in a season since the 2013 campaign. He has completed just two 16-game seasons — 2012 and ’13 — and saw suspensions and on-field struggles in 2018 lead to his Cincinnati exit. This also places Burfict on the same team as Antonio Brown. The two have a history, with the linebacker concussing the wide receiver during a 2015 playoff game. That hit led to Brown missing the Steelers’ subsequent divisional-round game and Burfict drawing a suspension to start the 2016 season. He was also suspended to start the 2017 and ’18 seasons.
The Bengals cut bait on Burfict with two years remaining on his deal. In addition to having a reputation for delivering dirty hits, the former UDFA has reportedly sustained seven concussions himself. These factors do not paint a picture of reliability, but the Raiders are going to take a chance on Burfict’s skills.
This signing may result in Brandon Marshall, rumored as a Raider target, to seek another gig elsewhere. Though, considering Burfict’s history and the Raiders’ lack of surefire answers on their defensive second level, the longtime Bronco still may be an option.
Yikes.
I’m sure Brown will welcome him with open arms!!!!
I’m sure Mr. Big Chest will forgive and forget.
And by “forget” I mean “have CTE and not remember why he has CTE.”
Michael Jackson eating popcorn GIF
Did it to protect AB.
4 months later headlines read “AB in concussion protocol after nasty hit by Burfict in practice”
Mr. Big Chest has just demanded a trade and a new contract.
It’s a perfect fit…
He is an Al Davis Raider if ever there was one.
Suddenly the Steelers are looking a little better for the trade value. This could be Burfict’s first September playing since 2015, assuming he doesn’t do something stupid between now and then.
That’s an awfully big assumption. He does stupid things just about every time he puts on a helmet.
You can’t fix stupid.
It’s a match made in… well, not heaven.
Once again the Brandon Marshall you linked to is the WR, not the LB. You’d that’s a detail you’d want to get right…since you all flubbed it as well in the report that Marshall is supposedly a target of the Ravens.
The dumbness Of Chuckie continues
Didn’t realize he was only 28. Missed enough time to have a 25 year old body and raiders got one a decent one year deal for a proven nasty dude. Bet there is a suspension no pay clause.
Welcome to the Black Hole killer
Chuckle is making his version of the longest yard with adding Brown n Burflict to Lynch. I think Adam Sandler might have a better arm than Carr
How is this thug still in the nfl???
To be a thug, one would assume he was in legal trouble. He has never been in legal trouble. He’s just been a nut job on the field. He gets a bad rap but being a Cincy fan I am glad he’s gone … too much drama. Was darn good for a minute.
If Brown had a huge problem with Burfict, they wouldn’t have signed him. Just goes to show the Steelers were full of it when they constantly whined about Burfict for 3 years straight. That stuff was all strategic. They couldn’t stand a dose of their own medicine.
Figured it’d be them or the Cowboys