Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict suspended 5 games for egregious hit

CINCINNATI - The NFL has suspended Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for five games because he leveled a Chiefs running back in a preseason game, the latest in his history of egregious hits.

The Bengals were off on Monday after returning from a preseason game in Washington. They released a statement supporting Burfict, saying his hit on running back Anthony Sherman was legal. Burfict is appealing the suspension.

The Bengals will start the season with Burfict and cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones suspended by the league. Both drew fouls that set up Pittsburgh’s winning field goal for an 18-16 victory at Paul Brown Stadium in a first-round playoff game during the 2015 season.

Burfict was suspended for his hit on Antonio Brown in that game. QB Matthew Stafford agrees to 5year extension with Lions: Matthew Stafford has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Detroit Lions.

The team announced Monday night the deal keeps the quarterback under contract through the 2022 season.

Stafford was entering the last season of his $53 million, three-year contract. He stood to get quite a raise and perhaps a deal richer than the $125 million, fiveyear contract the Oakland Raiders gave Derek Carr this summer.

Stafford said last week he hadn’t decided whether he would allow negotiations to drag into the season.

Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009. He helped the Lions reach the playoffs last season for the third time in six seasons.