The Cincinnati Bengals released long-time linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Monday, and in doing so, they saved $5.5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
At this point, Burfict is just a big name rather than a big producer.
Injuries and suspensions have severely limited Burfict's playing time over the last several years, as he has not played a full 16-game campaign since 2013 and has not played any more than 11 games in any one season since then.
He is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he played in just seven games due to a suspension and a hip injury, finishing with 33 tackles and three passes defended.
Widely considered one of the dirtiest players in the NFL, Burfict played his collegiate football at Arizona State University but went undrafted. He ended up landing with the Bengals in 2012, and in his first season, he was very impressive, registering 127 tackles, a sack and a couple of fumble recoveries.
The 28-year-old then had a monster year in 2013, racking up a league-leading 177 tackles to go along with three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a couple of fumble recoveries, six passes defended and a defensive touchdown en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
Since that point, Burfict has logged 100 tackles just once, which came in 2016.
The Bengals won just six games this past season and have missed the playoffs three years in a row after making five straight postseason appearances between 2011 and 2015.
Cincinnati has been one of the least successful franchises in the NFL over the last three decades, having won just one playoff game since 1989.
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