Vontaze Burfict facing season-long suspension

Oakland Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict is facing a season-long suspension after a helmet-to-helmet hit to Indianapolis Colts TE Jack Doyle during Sunday’s matchup. The hit occurred during the second quarter, afterward, Burfict was ejected from the game and was seen waving goodbye and blowing kisses to the Colts fans as he left the field. This marks the longest suspension for an on the field incident.

This is Burfict’s fourth suspension, his third for on the field incidents. NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan said in a league statement that Burfict was suspended for lowering his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent, and for repeat violations of unnecessary roughness penalties. "There were no mitigating circumstances on this play," Runyan said in his letter to Burfict. "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."

Burfict had become a leader for the Raiders defense this season after being let go by the Cincinnati Bengals in March. His latest suspension came in 2018 from a violation of the NFL’s PED policy in which he was suspended the first four-games of the season. Throughout his career, he has picked up 13 different penalties and fines costing him over four million dollars as seen below.

During Monday’s presser, Colts HC Frank Reich talked about how he was pleased with the decision from the league. “Just thankful league took action it did," Reich said, per ESPN.com. "When someone does something like that, attacks one of your players, it's not supposed to be in the game. Glad they did what they did. Actions feel very appropriate."

Burfict has made it known he will appeal the suspension.