The Oakland Raiders are taking a chance on Vontaze Burfict despite the veteran linebacker's debilitating penchant for dirty hits and recently checkered injury history. As details of his contract with the silver and black continue emerging, though, it's becoming more and more apparent the Raiders signed Burfict to a “prove it” deal rather than one that makes him a fixture of the team's plans in 2019.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Burfict's contract with Oakland is for one year and $2 million, with only $300,000 guaranteed.
Raiders gave former Bengals’ LB Vontaze Burfict a 1-year, $2 million deal that includes $300K guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2019
The Raiders signed Burfict last week, barely more than a day after his release from the Cincinnati Bengals. While terms of his contract weren't immediately disclosed, the notion that the team could potentially cut him without taking on too much dead money certainly makes the Raiders' signing of Burfict more defensible.
The 28-year-old suffered the seventh concussion of his career in a late December loss to the Cleveland Browns, ending his 2018 season early. He played in just seven games last season, finishing with 33 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three passes defended while fighting through various health maladies.
Nearly as problematic for his NFL future, and what contributed to the tepid interest he received on the free agent market before signing with Oakland, is Burfict's long history of fines and suspensions. He's been fined for dangerous hits and unsportsmanlike conduct on 11 separate occasions since entering the NFL out of Arizona State in 2012, a total amounting in over $400,000 worth of restitution to the league office. Burfict has also begun each of the past three seasons while serving a suspension, twice for dangerous on-field play and last season for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy.