Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict is suspended for the rest of the 2019 NFL season due to his helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle this past Sunday, but at least person doesn’t think that is right.
Former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski spoke to TMZ about Burfict and said he believes the NFL made a mistake by suspending Burfict for 12 games.
“You’re in the heat of battle. Your mindset is kill or be killed, because the offensive linemen, they’re still coming at you,” Romanowski, a former Raiders linebacker with a history of dirty plays himself, told TMZ Sports. “You’re in war, and you’re supposed to be able to be violent sometimes, and other times you’re supposed to be able to just take your foot off the gas like that. That is hard, and I feel for this guy.
“Do I think he should be fined? Yes. Do I think he should be kicked out of the league? No. I think it is absolutely dead wrong. This guy has handled himself like a pro, and yes, he is a violent motherf–er, and I love the way he plays the game of football. I truly believe this guy has cleaned up his act from previous years when he was with Cincinnati, and he’s playing a cleaner brand of football. But the hit from the other day, that was a rough one to watch.”
The former 2-time pro bowler said Sunday’s hit was worth perhaps a one-game suspension, but the league looked back at his history of bad play with the Bengals.
He still defended Burfict’s character.
“To me, he plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said Romanowski, who spent time with Burfict during Raiders camp this preseason. “Did he take it too far? Yeah, he took it too far, and he’s taken it too far quite a few times. My dealings with him, nothing but a good guy, a guy who’s probably the smartest football mind in the room.”
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The 29-year-old will reportedly appeal his suspension, while his teammates are getting ready to face the Chicago Bears in London.
