Vontaze Burfict’s reputation proceeds him, and according to the Bengals linebacker, that’s why he’s being unfairly targeted by game officials.
It’s not so much that the officials are throwing an inordinate number of flags his way, it’s that they are provoking him into reacting in a certain way.
If, in fact, that’s the officials’ tactic, it worked Sunday, when Burfict got the boot from Cincinnati’s 24-20 loss at Tennessee for making contact with down judge Jeff Bergman.
Before we accuse Burfict of crying victim, let’s consider that ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier this week that officials are indeed interacting in such a way with the player.
Officials are provoking Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict, according to a Cincinnati player who came to his defense... https://t.co/y5WvPc68Cd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2017
"The refs, they come up to me, talking to me disrespectfully, wanting me to curse back at them, but me cursing back at them isn't going to help me," Burfict said Friday, per ESPN.
Regarding Sunday’s ejection, Burfict says he was just trying to get Bergman’s arm off of him as Bergman was separating Burfict from a Titans offensive lineman.
"I knew I didn't do anything bad," Burfict said. "Obviously, you are not supposed to touch the officials, but I didn't think I touched him maliciously at all. I pretty much said, 'Excuse me.'"
Burfict was not suspended for the transgression, but the 12th fine of his career may be forthcoming, ESPN notes.
While the NFL denies Burfict is being treated differently than other players and that it’s common for officials’ hands to come into contact with players, Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has warned Burfict multiple times that he will be "held to a different set of standards" because of his track record of multiple fines and suspensions for on-field actions.
Moving forward, Burfict says he’ll try to do better.
"I'm not going to get a flag in my favor next time around, but that's the way they handle business, I guess,” he said. “I told Coach I'm just going to try to stay out of the refs' way."