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SPORTS Tuesday 1 OcTOber 2019
NFL suspends Raiders' Vontaze Burfict for rest of season

By JOSH DUBOW gating circumstances on
AP Pro Football Writer this play," NFL Vice Presi-
Oakland Raiders lineback- dent of football operations
er Vontaze Burfict was sus- Jon Runyan said in a letter
pended Monday for the to Burfict announcing the
rest of the season for a hel- suspension. "Your contact
met-to-helmet hit on India- was unnecessary, flagrant
napolis Colts tight end Jack and should have been
Doyle, the most severe avoided. For your actions,
punishment in NFL history you were penalized and
for an on-field infraction. disqualified from the game.
Burfict will miss the final 12 "Following each of your
games of the season and previous rule violations, you
any playoff games for "re- were warned by me and
peated violations of un- each of the jointly-appoint-
necessary roughness rules." ed appeal officers that fu-
He has been suspended ture violations would result
three times in his career for in escalated accountabil-
hits violating the league's ity measures. However,
player safety rules. you have continued to
Burfict has the right under flagrantly abuse rules des-
the collective bargain- ignated to protect yourself
ing agreement to appeal and your opponents from In this July 29, 2019, file photo, Oakland Raiders linebackers Vontaze Burfict gets up after stretch-
the punishment in the next unnecessary risk." ing during NFL football training camp in Napa, Calif.
three days. He had one of "Your extensive history of Associated Press
his previous suspensions re- rules violations is factored
duced from five games to into this decision regarding two players enter the con- thing like that and attacks physical," he said. "I can't
three games on an appeal accountability measures." cussion protocol following one of your players — that's go in there playing patty-
in 2017. The suspension is without games this season — All-Pro just not supposed to be in cake. If I go out there play-
It's that history that led to pay, costing Burfict more linebacker Darius Leonard the game. Then when it's ing patty-cake, then I'm
the most severe punish- than $1.1 million in salary two weeks ago and start- against one of your players, going to be getting run
ment the NFL has handed and per game active roster ing safety Clayton Geath- you naturally have a reac- over. I have 300-pound
out when it comes to play- bonuses. ers following Sunday's tion. I'm just glad they did linemen, 300-plus pound
er safety, topping the five Burfict was flagged for un- game. Doyle, Colts coach what they did at the game linemen coming at me, try-
games Tennessee's Albert necessary roughness and Frank Reich said Monday, and the follow-up action ing to block me. If I play
Haynesworth got in 2006 ejected from the Raiders' showed no symptoms of a seems very appropriate." soft, then I'm not doing my
for kicking and stomping game against the Colts head injury. Burfict during his time in job. I could see if I played
on Cowboys center Andre on Sunday after a blow to But Reich backed the Cincinnati was repeat- quarterback or kicker or
Gurode's face, leading to Doyle's head early in the league's decision. edly suspended by the punter, then yeah you can
30 stitches. second quarter. "I was just thankful the NFL for egregious hits and be, I wouldn't say soft, but
Burfict had served two "I just got tackled," Doyle league took the action that violating its policy on per- you know what I'm say-
three-game suspensions al- said after the game. "I'm it did, and (I) support the formance-enhancers. He ing. I play a physical posi-
ready in his career and had sure it looked worse than league and the decision," was fined regularly for hits tion to where I have to put
been warned about severe it was. I didn't really feel he said on a conference that crossed the line, most my jockstrap on right, put
punishment for future in- anything from it. My helmet call Monday. "I did have a notably the one to Antonio my shoes on right, put my
fractions. protected me." reaction yesterday. When Brown's head that helped cleats on right and come
"There were no miti- The Colts have now had someone does some- the Steelers rally for an 18- out ready to play physical."
16 playoff win in the 2015 Burfict also was suspend-
season. That led to a three- ed for the first four games
Bills backup Barkley on deck game suspension to start in 2018 for violating the

league's policy on perfor-
the 2016 season.
if Allen can't start vs Titans Burfict then was penal- mance-enhancers.
ized for a blind-side block The loss of Burfict will be a
big blow to the Raiders de-
against Kansas City full-
back Anthony Sherman in fense. He was brought in
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Unsure of 127 yards passing and a game-seal- the 2017 preseason that because of his extensive
Josh Allen's status after being placed ing interception against New Eng- led to a five-game suspen- knowledge of coordinator
in the NFL's concussion protocol, Buf- land as the Bills dropped to 3-1. The sion that was later reduced Paul Guenther's scheme
falo Bills coach Sean McDermott says seven-year journeyman signed with to three games. and had a key role as cap-
there's plenty of "internal belief" in Buffalo last October and started two Burfict was also fined tain and signal caller to
Matt Barkley should the backup have weeks later in place of Allen, who was $112,000 last season for hits make sure Oakland ran it
to start at Tennessee this weekend. sidelined by an injury to his throwing on Brown and James Con- properly.
McDermott provided no other up- elbow. Barkley went 15 of 25 for 232 ner in a game against Pitts- Tahir Whitehead took over
dates on Allen's status Monday. The yards and a touchdown in a 41-10 win burgh. as signal caller after Burfict
second-year starter was hurt a day over the New York Jets on Nov. 11. Despite that history, Burfict left the game.
earlier following a helmet-to-helmet The performance led Buffalo to sign said after signing with the The Raiders arrived in Lon-
hit with New England's Jonathan the 29-year-old to a two-year con- Raiders that he disputes don on Monday to prepare
Jones in the opening minute of the tract extension. The former college accusations that he is a for an upcoming game
fourth quarter of a 16-10 loss to the star at Southern California has just sev- "dirty" player. against the Chicago Bears
Patriots. en starts, including six with Chicago in "I play a physical position, and players and coach-
Barkley closed by going 9 of 16 for 2016, over 12 games.q which is middle linebacker, es were unavailable for
outside linebacker. That's comment.q