Chicago Bears: Vontaze Burfict suspended without pay for remainder of 2019 season |
| - Monday, September 30, 2019, 12:44 PM |
VONTAZE BURFICT of the Oakland Raiders has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2019 season, as well as any postseason games, for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules, including in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations JON RUNYAN issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10, which states that: “It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent.”
In his letter to Burfict, Runyan wrote:
“There were no mitigating circumstances on this play. Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided. For your actions, you were penalized and disqualified from the game.”
“Following each of your previous rule violations, you were warned by me and each of the jointly-appointed appeal officers that future violations would result in escalated accountability measures. However, you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk.”
“Your extensive history of rules violations is factored into this decision regarding accountability measures.”?
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension may be appealed within three business days. Appeals are heard and decided by either DERRICK BROOKS or JAMES THRASH, the officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.
Vontaze Burfict’s resume: pic.twitter.com/1h2z6huVyl
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 30, 2019
ICYMI: This morning, on Vontaze Burfict. @GetUpESPN
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) September 30, 2019
pic.twitter.com/p92wyjY2FN
Vontaze Burfict of the #Raiders has been suspended for the rest of the 2019 season (including the postseason) for repeatedly violating the NFL's unnecessary roughness rules.
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) September 30, 2019
pic.twitter.com/o9pwb4xko0
