http://www.nfl.com/burfict
Vontaze Burfict stretched his legs across the sofa in his basement while scanning the channels on his flat-screen television. His eyelids still drooped a bit -- the result of just waking from an afternoon nap -- and he could still feel the tenderness in his left knee after undergoing microfracture surgery a few months earlier. The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl-caliber outside linebacker knew he probably shouldn't have skipped that morning rehabilitation session, but the monotony of the process had worn on his nerves. He didn't think one missed day was that big a deal, until he peered out his window and saw Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis strolling up his driveway.
As Burfict squirmed to sit upright, he heard the doorbell ring and then Lewis talking to Burfict's wife, Brandie. Once Burfict walked into his living room, he saw that familiar look on Lewis' face: a mix of frustration, anger and disappointment. The two men didn't have to talk much; the tense lecture Lewis delivered at Burfict's dining-room table lasted maybe 15 minutes. The coach's message also reverberated long after he drove away, as Burfict turned to Brandie and said, "I can't believe he really came to my house."
It's been 18 months since Lewis made that surprise visit -- it happened back in April 2015 -- and Burfict still smiles while recalling the moment. It's telling evidence of how committed the coach is to a game-changing talent, how far he'll go to maximize the potential of both the player and person. Burfict might be the most controversial figure in today's NFL, a player who just finished serving a three-game suspension that was levied after a vicious hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in last season's playoffs. However, Lewis sees a young man who has far more depth to him than anybody knows and only needs a reliable helping hand to guide him.
That combination of Lewis' devotion and Burfict's stubbornness has spawned a complex relationship that has been essential to the Bengals' fate. Of all the stars in Cincinnati, no player sets the aggressive tone on that squad like Burfict. But that edge also has come at a ridiculously high cost. Burfict already has amassed $204,329 in fines by the league for excessively violent play, and his current suspension will subtract $502,941 from his base salary this season. Those numbers are starting to define him more than tackles, sacks or forced fumbles.
Read the rest at the link at the top...
Vontaze Burfict stretched his legs across the sofa in his basement while scanning the channels on his flat-screen television. His eyelids still drooped a bit -- the result of just waking from an afternoon nap -- and he could still feel the tenderness in his left knee after undergoing microfracture surgery a few months earlier. The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl-caliber outside linebacker knew he probably shouldn't have skipped that morning rehabilitation session, but the monotony of the process had worn on his nerves. He didn't think one missed day was that big a deal, until he peered out his window and saw Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis strolling up his driveway.
As Burfict squirmed to sit upright, he heard the doorbell ring and then Lewis talking to Burfict's wife, Brandie. Once Burfict walked into his living room, he saw that familiar look on Lewis' face: a mix of frustration, anger and disappointment. The two men didn't have to talk much; the tense lecture Lewis delivered at Burfict's dining-room table lasted maybe 15 minutes. The coach's message also reverberated long after he drove away, as Burfict turned to Brandie and said, "I can't believe he really came to my house."
It's been 18 months since Lewis made that surprise visit -- it happened back in April 2015 -- and Burfict still smiles while recalling the moment. It's telling evidence of how committed the coach is to a game-changing talent, how far he'll go to maximize the potential of both the player and person. Burfict might be the most controversial figure in today's NFL, a player who just finished serving a three-game suspension that was levied after a vicious hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in last season's playoffs. However, Lewis sees a young man who has far more depth to him than anybody knows and only needs a reliable helping hand to guide him.
That combination of Lewis' devotion and Burfict's stubbornness has spawned a complex relationship that has been essential to the Bengals' fate. Of all the stars in Cincinnati, no player sets the aggressive tone on that squad like Burfict. But that edge also has come at a ridiculously high cost. Burfict already has amassed $204,329 in fines by the league for excessively violent play, and his current suspension will subtract $502,941 from his base salary this season. Those numbers are starting to define him more than tackles, sacks or forced fumbles.
Read the rest at the link at the top...
