Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Vontaze Burfict reportedly is facing a suspension from the NFL.
How is that possible in March, when there’s no one for the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker to cheap shot, you ask? According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Burfict is facing a four-game suspension stemming from a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.
Bengals’ LB Vontaze Burfict is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Drug policy, pending appeal, league sources tell ESPN. No appeal date yet.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2018
According to Schefter, Burfict will appeal the ruling, insisting he tested positive due to a prescription that came after suffering a concussion from a hit from Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
If the appeal is unsuccessful, Burfict stands to lose a lot — including his job.
If #Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict loses his appeal of a 4-game suspension, the guarantees in his 3-year, $33M contract will void. That’s nearly $11.3M. Which means Cincy can move on if they want to.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2018
Burfict is no stranger to supplemental discipline, but it usually stems from on-field incidents.  Burfict has been accused of being a dirty player dating all the way back to high school and college. In the NFL, he’s been fined six times and suspended twice.
Well, that’s about to be thrice now.
