Day after release by Bengals Vontaze Burfict visiting Raiders

Monday the Bengals released Vontaze Burfict. Tuesday he is in Oakland visiting the Raiders according to NFL media reports. He is the latest in a string of linebackers visiting the Raiders the past two days as they seek out an answer at the middle linebacker spot.

There is an obvious connection in Oakland that would make Burfict sense for him. His old Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther is the DC in Oakland.

Burfict is talented, there’s no question about that. It’s his constant unsportsmanlike actions that are the problem. At least they are a problem for the league and perhaps a lot of the fans. It doesn’t seem to be a big problem for Guenther despite ten times Burfict being either fined or suspended in his seven NFL seasons, mostly for violent extracurricular conduct on the field.

The 28-year-old linebacker has the kind of on-field behavior that few teams will stomach. Though as soon as he was released, we asked our readers if they think the Raiders should sign him and 53% of you said yes.

Just once in his career did Burfict start a full 16-game season. It was his second season in 2013 and he went to the Pro Bowl with a league-leading 177 combined tackles. He has appeared in just 43 games in 5 seasons since, either because of suspensions or injuries.