Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict Suspended For First Three Games Of 2016 Season

The NFL announced Monday night that Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the first three games of the 2016 regular-season.

Burfict is expected to appeal the league’s ruling, but the league made a point to say that this is related to his repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.

Burfict ‘s suspension stems from his hit on WR Antonio Brown during Saturday’s Wildcard loss to the Steelers. for repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.

He was previously been fined for safety-related violations four times in 2015, including a $50,000 fine for unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of the play in Cincinnati’s Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Burfict, 25, will be entering the third year of his four-year, $20 million contract. He’ll make a base salary of $2.85 million for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Burfict appeared in 10 games and recorded 74 tackles, one sacks, two interceptions, and five pass defenses for the Bengals.