The Cincinnati Bengals 2018 season doesn't begin until September, but they've already been dealt a major blow. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, star linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy:
Burfict was also suspended three games in the 2016 season for a series of dirty and dangerous hits. He also got hit with a five-game ban in 2017 (later reduced to three), for a cheap shot during preseason play.
And as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted, the Bengals have a chance to cut ties with the troubled Burfict:
Though Burfict has been one of the most effective linebackers in the league (being named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and helping Cincinnati reach the playoffs four times), his career has been overshadowed by a series of ugly hits.
Burfict's Bengals led the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-15 in the waning seconds of the 2015 AFC Wild Card game. Burfict took 15-yard penalty after smoking receiver Antonio Brown in the head. Adam Jones also took a personal foul penalty for confronting a Steelers coach.
That gave Pittsburgh a short field, and Chris Boswell was able to boot the game-winning field goal, while the Bengals fell short of winning their first playoff contest since 1990. Burfict's penalty was indeed a costly one.
Burfict, Jones and former Bengal James Harrison are among the notable players on the franchise who've had problems keeping it clean. Despite the issues, the Bengals have constantly relied on head coach Marvin Lewis to get this team's act together, though it's failed time and time again.
With Burfict running into yet another suspension, the Bengals may decide they've had enough and release him on the open market. Should that happen, it's tough to guess how many teams will take a chance on Burfict, who can't be relied upon to stay clean.