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Vontaze Burfict | Linebacker

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age / DOB:  (22) / 9/24/1990
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 248
College: Arizona State
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Bengals.com considers Vontaze Burfict and Emmanuel Lamur the leading candidates to take the bulk of the linebacker snaps in 2013.
Burfict played weak-side 'backer in 2012 as an undrafted rookie, and went on to lead the team in tackles. He'll shift to the middle with free agent Rey Maualuga likely gone, and Lamur will step in on the weak side. Lamur is an athletic player out of Kansas State who was promoted from the practice squad in Week 9. Feb 13 - 9:45 PM
Source: bengals.com

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Player News

Date:
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Undrafted rookie WLB Vontaze Burfict finished the regular season as the Bengals' leading tackler.

After being credited with 18 tackles in the regular-season finale, Burfict will finish with 127. The coaches will end up with a figure closer to 170. It's an impressive tally for a player who didn't appear for a single snap in the season opener and changed positions a couple of weeks later.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Mon, Dec 31, 2012 02:14:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Rookie WLB Vontaze Burfict had 15 tackles in the Bengals' Week 7 loss to the Steelers.

It looks like the Bengals got themselves a steal. Despite first-round talent, Burfict went undrafted in April due to a bad Combine and off-field concerns. He's proceeded to start five games and has led the team in tackles in three of those games. Over the last four weeks, "Tez" has 36 tackles, one sack and two pass breakups out of the WILL linebacker spot.
Source: Bengals.com
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 08:56:00 AM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Vontaze Burfict is expected to start at WLB on Sunday for the Bengals.

It was reported that Burfict would get the start last week in place of Thomas Howard, but the Bengals opened up in the nickel with Vincent Rey on the field alongside Rey Maualuga. Burfict played 22 snaps in the base package, but came off the field in passing situations. This is the first time Burfict has played OLB, and he's still adjusting to the different responsibilities. It's likely we won't see him getting nickel snaps this weekend.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 11:17:00 AM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

The Bengals are moving rookie Vontaze Burfict to weakside linebacker.

Burfict is expected to be used in a rotation with Dan Skuta and Vincent Rey to replace Thomas Howard (knee), who was placed on injured reserve. Skuta is the favorite for early-down work, but Burfict and Rey will be given looks in certain situations. The Bengals also re-signed Roddrick Muckelroy as linebacker depth.
Related: Dan Skuta
Source: Bengals.com
Sat, Sep 15, 2012 08:52:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Bengals.com expects undrafted rookie ILB Vontaze Burfict to battle Roddrick Muckelroy for a roster spot.

Reporter Geoff Hobson expects the fight to be a "camp highlight." Per Hobson, Burfict impressed the coaching staff in OTAs by quickly figuring out the playbook and where to line up. For a player riddled with questions about his discipline (among other things), Burfict is off to a good start in his long-shot quest to crack Cincinnati's 53.
Related: Roddrick Muckelroy
Source: Bengals.com
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 12:22:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Undrafted Bengals ILB Vontaze Burfict has lost 15 pounds since the Combine.

Burfict is participating in the Bengals' rookie minicamp at 248 pounds after reporting to the Combine out of shape. Getting in shape is just the beginning for Burfict, who will have to prove he's disciplined and explosive enough to play in the NFL before even being considered for a roster spot.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Sat, May 12, 2012 01:22:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Bengals signed Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict.

We suspect maybe only a handful of teams -- and going plural there might be generous -- had any interest in Burfict at all. The Bengals, never shy about character concerns, were most willing to roll the dice. Burfict was a first-team All-American in 2010, before getting benched as a junior in 2011. You probably already know about his terrible Combine, Pro Day, and failed drug test. He'll be a major long shot to make the Bengals' roster.
Source: Master Tesfatsion on Twitter
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 08:37:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports NFL teams were informed this week that Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict and Virginia Tech CB Jayron Hosley tested positive for marijuana at the Combine.

After starting the 2011 season as a consensus first-rounder, Burfict's past few months have seen a perfect storm of factors sending him toward undrafted free agent territory. Burfict is littered with red flags, from his on-field play to drugs, entitlement, questionable effort, and misplaced priorities. Hosley was a projected second- or third-round pick before the positive test.
Related: Jayron Hosley
Source: Jay Glazer on Twitter
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 12:11:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict says he plans to return to school or try the Arena Football League if he goes undrafted.

"If I don’t get drafted then I will have to go back to school, but I love football so much that I won’t give up on football," Burfict said. "But I will go back to school and finish up my schooling ... and probably go somewhere else like Arena football or something but hopefully I make it to the NFL."
Source: Sports Radio Interviews
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 02:33:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

The agent for Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict confirmed that his client has not been invited to any pre-draft team visits.

We're tracking all pre-draft meetings closely, and haven't so much as seen Burfict scheduled for a private workout. "I am a little bit worried," said Burfict's high school coach, Matt Logan. "I just don’t know if he’s listening to anybody right now." The same series of events happened with Florida S Will Hill last year. Hill went undrafted and didn't even get a camp invite.
Source: The Daily
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 01:00:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Updating a previous item, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns have "zero interest" in Arizona State LB Vontaze Burfict.

We'd wager heavily that Burfict isn't even on Cleveland's draft board. Burfict isn't a good football player, and his litany of character concerns will most likely knock him out of the draft. He's this year's version of Adarius Bowman.
Related: Browns
Source: Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 08:07:00 PM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Multiple sources tell ESPN Cleveland the Browns have an interest in drafting Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict.

If the Browns were to draft Burfict, "it would be a late-round value pick," one source explained. Shabby measurables, eyebrow-raising Combine interviews, and an assortment of character red flags have Burfict's value in the tank as the draft approaches. He would be D'Qwell Jackson's caddy in Cleveland.
Related: Browns
Source: ESPN Cleveland
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 11:06:00 AM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn agrees with speculation that Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict could go undrafted.

McGinn is one of the league's most respected and well-connected beat writers, so it's unlikely he's simply giving his opinion. Burfict's offseason has been one prolonged free-fall, and at this point he'll be lucky to be a seventh-round pick. Name recognition alone may be all that prevents him from going undrafted.
Source: Bob McGinn on Twitter
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 09:26:00 AM
Vontaze Burfict - LB - Bengals

Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict improved his forty time from 5.09 at the Combine to 4.8 at the Sun Devils' Friday Pro Day.

Burfict also shed three pounds, dropping his weight from 248 to 245. The small improvements aren't going to save his draft stock, though. Burfict is a slow player with no instincts and major character concerns. He'll struggle to get drafted.
Source: Kent Somers on Twitter
Fri, Mar 30, 2012 02:53:00 PM

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