With a damaging history behind him, it might be safe to assume the Vontaze Burfict experiment is over for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Burfict’s blemished past with the NFL’s league office caught up to him in 2019. He was suspended after just four games, which hindered the Raiders defensive performance, particularly the linebackers. Burfict was theoretically brought in to be an on-field coach, given his experience with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. But the operation ended as quickly as it started.
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As far as 2020 is concerned, Burfict was in fact reinstated by the NFL. Does it matter though as far as the Raiders are concerned?
The Verdict?
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, it sure seems like it’s over for Burfict as far as his days in Silver and Black.
The Raiders love Burfict. The coaching staff thought that he was very good not only on the field, but in the locker room and on the practice field, helping young players learn old friend Guenther’s defense. And Mayock and Jon Gruden have a huge hole at linebacker.
But unless something goes really wrong in free agency and the draft, it just won’t be worth it. The Raiders would need the league to tell them that it is going to ease up on Burfict a little bit, and that his first questionable hit won’t result in him being put back on the shelf.
A side note that Tafur pointed out was the fact that Burfict’s suspension was twice as long as Myles Garrett. Who could forget Garrett bashing Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph right? Tafur’s right nonetheless, unless the Raiders screw up in the draft or miss out in free agency, it’s all but a likelihood Burfict won’t be in Vegas in 2020.
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