Jon Gruden has been labeled plenty of things throughout his coaching career with the Oakland Raiders, but forgetful is not one of them. Even months after the incident occurred, Gruden is still angry at the NFL for how they handled Vontaze Burfict's suspension.
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Back in Week 4, the Raiders squared off against the Indianapolis Colts on the road. Early in the game, Burfict was ejected after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit to Jack Doyle.
Following the game, the NFL chose to suspend Burfict for the final 12 weeks of the season. Over his career in the NFL, Burfict has accumulated a questionable track record due to his seemingly dirty plays.
Therefore, the NFL took into consideration his troubled past and suspended him as a repeat offender. For most people, it was no surprise that the NFL was cracking down on the veteran linebacker as they are trying to prevent more head injuries from happening.
Besides the suspension, the league also fined Burfict for yet another infraction. Altogether, Burfict has been handed a total of 22 games in suspensions and over $4.12 million in fines during his eight-year career.
As for Gruden, it's understandable for him to continue showing his support for his player. This situation goes to show why players love to play for Gruden in Oakland.
But at the same time, Gruden has to understand the consequences that can come with signing a player like Burfict. Even though he can be talented at times, he's shown that he can be a problem on and off of the field.
The Raiders could undoubtedly use Burfict in their pivotal clash with the Denver Broncos in Week 17. It remains to be seen if Oakland chooses to retain Burfict in 2020 after signing a one-year deal last offseason.
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