Burfict has new contract terms
Extension gives him seventh-highest pay for an NFL linebacker.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict to a three-year, $38.68 million extension Thursday night.
Burfict, currently serving a three-game suspension for an illegal hit on Kansas City’s Anthony Sherman last month, had been entering the final year of a threeyear, $9.6 extension he signed in August 2014. It’s the second exten
sion the team has given Burfict, who will turn 27 on Sept. 24, since signing him as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
“Vontaze is still one of the young, emerging talents within the league,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We have worked hard at training, developing and retaining talented players. It’s pleasing that Vontaze has made this commitment to be a part of the organization ... It was important to reach an extension before the start of the season and we look forward to having Vontaze back with the team in a few weeks.”
The Bengals have a history of locking up key players before the beginning of the regular season. Many times the deals have been struck in August, but two years ago they announced the A.J. Green extension two days before the season opener.
The fact that Burfict is suspended didn’t hamper negotiations in terms of logistics or desire,
Lewis said.
“I know they’ve been working with Vontaze’s people for a while,” he said. “It kind of came together in the 11th hour. Once they were involved in the process, it’s hard for the team to come back and renege on it.
“I think it’s great for the planning for the club,” Lewis added. “In (team owner and president Mike Brown’s) mind, that helps him plan for the future for the team, knowing that spot is some- what solidified.
Tight end Tyler Eifert is another key player the Bengals are eyeing for an exten- sion, although the clock would seem to be ticking with the season opener rapidly approaching.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Burf- ict’s new deal includes a $3.3 million signing bonus, which is the only part of the con- tract that is guaranteed, and a 2017 base salary of $7.936 million.
Burfict had been sched- uled to make $3.1 million this season. The pay raise means his three-game suspension will cost him $1.4 million instead of $697,000.
The contract also includes per-game bonuses totalling $2.25 million. That means for every game Burfict misses due to suspension or injury, it will cost him $132,352.
The average of Burfict’s new deal is $12.9million per season, which would be the seventh-highest among linebackers, according to spotrac.com. The top six are: Denver’s Von Miller, $19.0 million; Kansas City’s Justin Houston, $16.8 million; Arizona’s Chandler Jones, $16.5 million; San Diego’s Melvin Ingram, $16.0 million; the Los Angeles Rams’ Robert Quinn, $14.2 million; and
Green Bay’s Clay Matthews, $13.2 million.
First-round pick Ross questionable for Sunday’s
opener: Lewis said Friday that rookie first-round pick John Ross could play in Sunday’s season opener against Baltimore, but he declined to confirm whether the wide receiver will play, and the team has listed him as “questionable” on the injury report.
Ross suffered a left knee sprain in the preseason finale at Indianapolis. He sat out the Monday and Wednesday practice before returning on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.
Lewis typically doesn’t play p layers, espec ia lly young ones, who haven’t been full participants in practice that week.
The only other players on the injury report are safety Shawn Williams (elbow) and tight end C.J. Uzomah (ankle), who are out.