One of the key personality traits of the Cincinnati Bengals is taking a chance on "problem" players. No modern day NFL team loves character issues more than the Cincy Bungles. The team has also arguably never been better than the regular season dynasty 2009-16 established under Marvin Lewis, so why would you ever change coaches?
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Let's imagine Vontaze Burfict is a good guy who likes playing football and has also largely been ignored by his coaches despite "character issues." It's not so hard to imagine Burfict as a talented immature guy who doesn't realize his style of play is probably going to permanently injure an opponent some day. If you're going to be 2nd longest tenured coach & in charge of the NFL's character issues island, don't you have to have a better handle on your most talented and most stupid guys??
Vontaze Burfict is not really a "good guy". He has a history of getting fined for blatantly trying to injure opposing teams' best players whenever he gets close. He is a textbook jagoff. He's also an undrafted free agent signee of the Cincinnati Bengals. In his four+ years as a pro, he has been named a team captain, awarded a 4 year extension, and fined well over a hundred thousand dollars for various clear-cut cases of cheating. That extension promises that he will be financially stable for the rest of his life (so there's no need to cheat). He will almost certainly be suspended 4+ games in 2016 for various infractions during his team's 5th straight wildcard loss.
Burfict, in the above GIF, follows a dangerous helmet-to-helmet tackle of a defenseless Antonio Brown with an attempt to console/apologize. Brown had no chance of catching the overthrown pass attempt; and Burfict decided to launch into Brown, NFL Blitz style, after the overthrown ball had already passed. Burfict seems remorseful after the fact, but as the grey haired Steelers assistant wordlessly points out, get the fuck out of here dude.
Vontaze Burfict does not get to be a compassionate human being after spending his entire 4 year career out to injure the opposing teams' best players as a singular mission statement. I don't care how much you want to win, you're taking it too far for all the reasons everyone else has pointed out since the conclusion of Saturday's game. A 4-game suspension has never been more of a slap on the wrist for an NFL player since Tom Brady cheated in the 2014 AFC Championship game.
If you're going to build your success by being the NFL's island for misfit players, you have to be held accountable when the actions of your 4th year, high pedigree undrafted free agent star middle linebacker nearly leads to serious injury of a defenseless receiver. Bengal fans will want Lewis fired because lack of discipline cost the team their first playoff win in a quarter century; quit being selfish for a second. An NFL team in Kentucky was never supposed to win anything, but Bengal fans should be mad at how bad Cincinnati looks following Saturday night's loss. Never has a sacrificial lamb firing been more necessary.
I have long thought the reason the Cleveland Browns will never be successful is an almost childlike insistence on being good THIS YEAR. Nothing is good enough for Cleveland Browns management; and their refusal to put in long-term hard work is rewarded year after year with aimless losing seasons. You can't achieve sustainable success in pro football without some semblance of stability. This is a simple lesson I hope the Cleveland Browns never figure out, because it's hilarious to go into every Steeler season 2-0.
Marvin Lewis, man of 0 playoff wins, is shockingly the 2nd longest tenured head coach in the league (after the conniving Bill Belichick). Truly the Bengals' willingness to stick with him is the reason for their continued success. But given the following:
- 4th year defensive captain Vontaze Burfict has not shown any restraint in reckless/injurious style of play
- 31 year old, probable 10 year veteran and co-captain Adam Jones defends Burfict by saying that a concussed Antonio Brown "was probably faking it"
- Lewis himself said "I don't know if he hit him or not, I can't comment" regarding Burfict's dirty hit
- For all the hand wringing about Joey Porter being on the field tending to a motionless Antonio Brown; 31 year old Domata Peko just ran onto the field to shove a Steeler for no reason
When career, 10 year veteran Bengals can't conduct themselves without embarrassing their city on national television and permanently scarring public perception of their franchise; you have to clean house. To say nothing of the 0-7 career record in the playoffs (an NFL record).
Interesting Professional Writing On The Subject
"Wherever this happens, including Pittsburgh, the people doing it are idiots. But I’d never seen it on this scale in any city other than Philadelphia, and that place is such a lost cause it barely counts.
Here’s hoping this disgraceful scene, witnessed by a huge national TV audience, sticks with Cincinnati long enough to cut deeply.
Just a scathing take-down by Pittsburgh sports moral compass Dejan Kovacevic. Not unlike my week ~14 book report, he's basically arguing that there is no saving Cincinnati OH.This is what losers do. Not in football. In life."
Cincinnati.com - The Night it all went wrong
"Restaurateur Nick Lachey’s post-game tweet about the Bengals’ meltdown would be shared over 200 times.
“I’m done. A broken man. I can’t do it anymore. This is insanity. Only Cleveland knows more pain. Change is needed,” he tweeted."
Hey Nick, riddle for ya. How hot is coach Marvin Lewis' hot seat?
A: 98 degrees :P
"Jones’ brain cramp on top of Burfict’s malice pulled the Steelers from the 47 all the way to the Bengals’ 17, well within range of their outstanding thumper Chris Boswell, whose 35-yard field goal with 14 seconds left sent the Steelers to Denver and the Bengals screaming back to their personal postseason hell."
No recap of Saturday's masterpiece Wildcard game would be complete without a veteran journalist reflecting on just how stupid the last 2 Bengal penalties really were. Hey dummies, our QB couldn't throw the ball 10 yards!
"As a former amateur football player that is currently getting evaluated by neurologists because I am seeing some of the same CTE signs so prevalent in current and former professional football players, I have this to say to Vontaze Burfict:
You are a wretched human being that needs to reevaluate your life and get the help you need mentally. Not only are you perpetuating debilitating injures and disease on your fellow players, the amount of concussions you have had is shortening the life you have left with your own family and friends. If not for the health of those around you, do it for your own health before you end up like so many of the former football players behind you... a bullet hole in your heart so doctors can study your brain."
Runaway hottest take of the weekend coming out of Baltimore. Moving on...
"CLEVELAND, Ohio — The 2015 season ended for the Browns with last Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the 16th time in the 17 years since returning in 1999, the Browns will not play a part in the NFL playoffs.
Since 1999, the Browns have made the playoffs only once. That was in 2002 with a 9-7 record. They proceeded to lose in the wild-card round to Pittsburgh."
Not really about Marvin Lewis but I think a little perspective will cheer everyone up after a particularly trying wild card weekend.
We Dey :)
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