Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a five-game suspension for an illegal associate it to Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman throughout every week 2 season game, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Specifically, Burfict’s guilty of striking a player in a very vulnerable position, that is a new rule instituted this season to protect players who otherwise cannot protect themselves.
Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7(a-2) grants protection to “a receiver running a pass route once the defender approaches from the aspect or behind.” In different words, defenders would be restricted within how they may disrupt route running on a pass play.
At regarding identical time, NFL owners increased their discipline policy to encourage officers to eject, or the league workplace to suspend, players for significantly violent or flagrant hits to the pinnacle or neck space — even on a primary offense. The new stress was a transparent warning that the league planned to intensify more its specialize in the problem for the 2017 season.
The veteran linebacker will lose $882,353 in game checks if the suspension stands.
Burfict’s contest hit on Antonio Brown in 2015 triggered his last suspension, and he’s been penalized nearly $800,000 for sixteen needless roughness penalties.
He’d miss games against the Ravens, Texans, Packers, Browns, and Bills if the suspension stands.
