The Cincinnati Bengals have had an identity on defense they are likely looking to shed after many years of controversy. The primary cause of many ongoing issues is now gone as the Bengals decided to part ways with linebacker Vontaze Burfict, leaving them with somewhat of a fresh start on defense.
It's likely the team grew tired of Burfict's dirty play over the years as well as play style that proved to be detrimental to the team. Team owner Mike Brown was of course torn in the decision to let Burfict due to his skill set as a player, but the decision was made nonetheless.
“Burfict, when he was healthy and playing at the level he could play, was exceptional,” Brown said. “All this stuff that came on detracted from his ability to play effectively and we suffered from it. It gives us a little clearer path forward. I don’t expect we’re going to have to defend whoever is out there this year the way we’ve had to defend Burfict. And some of the stuff he was accused of in my mind was overdrawn. But it was the fact he was accused and we had all the repercussions with it.”
The Bengals have had their fair share of character issues in the past and with a new innovative head coach and the direction to turn things around, the right decisions are seemingly being made.
Now that the team has moved on from Burfict, there ought to be very seldom distractions, and the defense can be known for their talent and not the dirty play tendencies of the past.
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