Bengals finally part ways with Burfict
The Cincinnati Bengals stuck with linebacker Vontaze Burfict through all his troubles, including a hit to Antonio Brown’s head that led to a playoff loss.
They finally released him Monday after the worst season of his career.
“Vontaze has been a good player here — the team appreciates that, and I know a lot of fans appreciate that — but our focus is on the future,” new Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.
During seven seasons, Burfict was repeatedly suspended by the NFL for egregious hits and violating its policy on performance-enhancers.
Last season, his third straight season with a suspension, he was banned for the first four games for PEDs, and a hip injury and concussions limited him to seven games with only 33 tackles, no sacks and no interceptions.
Nobody was willing to draft him out of Arizona State, where he repeatedly drew personal-foul penalties. The former Corona Centennial standout wrote a letter to NFL teams, and the Bengals, known for giving troubled players a chance, gave him one.
He was their best defensive player — he led the league with 177 tackles in 2013 and made the Pro Bowl — but also one of the NFL’s most controversial players.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata announced his retirement on Instagram, posting a picture from atop Mount Kilimanjaro. He made two All-Pro teams and five Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2013 . ... Green Bay resigned veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis . ... Oakland re-signed return specialist Dwayne Harris . ... Philadelphia agreed to a one-year contract with safety Andrew Sendejo. ... The New York Jets signed offensive lineman Tom Compton . ... Washington signed offensive tackle Ereck Flowers to a $4-million, one-year contract . ... Linebacker Mark Barron, released by the Rams this month, will sign with Pittsburgh, according to reports.