The Oakland Raiders are giving their support to Vontaze Burfict, who made his appeal for his 12-game suspension on Tuesday. Both the Raiders and the linebacker are seeking a reduction of his record-breaking suspension.
“We want Burfict back,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said, via Scott Bair of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “He has already been punished. We hope he can return to playing soon.”
Officials ejected Burfict in Week 4 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle. A day after the incident, the NFL announced the suspension that would take him out for the entirety of the 2019 season; beating Albert Haynesworth's five-game suspension in 2006, then the longest for something on the field.
Burfict was scheduled to meet with appeals officer Derrick Brooks on Tuesday. It is unknown when he will make his decisions. Though a former NFL linebacker (and Hall of Famer), it would be a surprise if Brooks lowered the length of the suspension.
Brooks previously upheld Burfict's three-game suspension for his dirty hit on then-Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown in the 2015 playoffs. Considering Burfict's laundry list of suspensions and fines, the expectation is that Brooks will not lower it.
Burfict has a long history of suspensions and fines from the league, including, via Spotrac:
- $10,000: Striking Packers TE Ryan Taylor in the groin, 09/27/13
- $21,000: Hit on a defenseless Packers WR James Jones, 09/27/13
- $21,000: Spearing against Jets WR Stephen Hill, 11/01/13
- $25,000: Ankle-Twisting Panthers QB Cam Newton and TE Greg Olsen, 10/15/14
- $69,454: Combination of unsportsmanlike conduct plays against Pittsburgh, 12/18/15
- $50,000: Late hit against Ravens TE Maxx Williams, 1/11/16
- $502,941, 3 games: Hit to a defenseless receiver (Antonio Brown, Steelers), 04/01/16
- $75,000: Unsportsmanlike Conduct, stepping on Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount, 10/19/16
- $12,154: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (middle finger to fans) against Buffalo, 11/25/16
- $1,400,469, 3 games: Illegal hit against Chiefs FB Anthony Sherman, 08/28/17
- $12,154: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (kicking) Steelers FB Roosevelt Nix, 10/27/17
- $1,839,362, 4 games: PEDs, 03/16/18
- $112,000: Hit to head area against Steelers WR Antonio Brown & James Conner, 10/19/18
- $53,482: Lowering his helmet against Broncos FB Andy Janovich, 12/07/18
- $1,163,787, 12 games: Targeting against Colts TE Jack Doyle, 09/30/19
In any case, upheld or not, expect Burfict to serve some time for yet another dirty hit in-game.
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