Update: Conflicting reports about Raiders supposedly working on trade for Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict

One of the more interesting reports is out now. It comes from Chris Renkel of CBS 42 in Birmingham Alabama. He is citing a source that says the Raiders are working on a trade to acquire Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

How would this make sense? Plain and simple — Paul Guenther.

The Raiders new Defensive Coordinator came over from Cincinnati where Burfict was his starting linebacker the past six seasons, first while Guenther was linebackers coach and the past four as DC.

Burfict represents an $8.67 million cap hit this season in the first year of a 3-year extension he signed prior to last season.

He appeared in 10 games last season and hasn’t played a full NFL season since 2013. He made his only Pro Bowl that season. He also known as one of the dirtiest players in the league, which is part of the reason he hasn’t played a full season for so long. A vicious his he had on Chiefs’ fullback Anthony Sherman in last year’s preseason got him suspended for five games.

It was character issues that had Burfict go undrafted in 2012 out of Arizona State. Otherwise he is a very talented player.

UPDATE: This report is receiving some blowback. I was rather skeptical of it myself. Now Members of the Bengals and Raiders media are shooting down its validity.

I’m gonna go with Vic Tafur and the Cincinnati Enquirer guy on this one and say this deal is not in the works. It was always a little sketchy that the Raiders would take on a player like Burfict, even with the Paul Guenther connection.