This developed fast. The Bengals and Vontaze Burfict agreed to a three-year extension worth $38.68MM, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Word of an extension for the polarizing linebacker surfaced this afternoon, and it looks like the longtime Bengals second-level standout will be staying in Cincinnati for a while.
This deal will make Burfict the highest-paid 4-3 outside linebacker in the game on a per-year basis. It tops Jamie Collins‘ Browns pact, which is worth $12.5MM per year. The 26-year-old Burfict’s deal will be for $12.89MM AAV.
And despite Burfict set to serve a three-game suspension to start another season, he will see an additional $7MM in 2017, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). A $3.3MM signing bonus will come Burfict’s way as well, per Rapoport.
A starter since coming into the league in 2012 as a UDFA, Burfict has been a key part of Cincinnati’s defense and run of playoff appearances. Burfict, who rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 linebacker last season, has started 58 games — of a possible 80 — in his career. But he will be under Bengals control for the remainder of the decade. Burfict was set to be a UFA after this season, so this re-up will tie him to Cincinnati through the 2020 campaign.
The former Arizona State linebacker has obviously brought a swarm of negative attention to the franchise, and he won’t begin his sixth NFL season until October after being suspended for a preseason hit, but it’s clear now the Bengals continue to view him as a cornerstone talent.
Only three 4-3 outside ‘backers even earn eight figures annually, so the Bengals are paying a premium for a player who continually tests the NFL’s boundaries on in-game violence. Burfict will miss the first three games of a season for the second straight year. Nevertheless, he becomes only the sixth non-rush linebacker to enter the $10MM-per-year club. A one-time Pro Bowler, Burfict will also earn more than three-time first-team All-Pro Luke Kuechly annually.
Well deserved, at least as a player on the field lol
he needed a raise due his future fines
Hater
Or just a truth speaker. Dude is a great player, but he’s reckless and has a history of being fined.
ASU alum not USC
Hasn’t played a full season since 2013….doesn’t seem worth almost 13 million a season to me….but whatever….
Half to wonder if their is some sort of games played clause in there.
Damn TJ. That grammar is rough
Thug life continues for Bengals.
All teams have thugs – not just Cincy- actually since the year 2000 the Minnesota Vikings lead the pack with 49 arrests. The the beloved Broncos at 47.
The best teams are Houston at 13 and the NY Giants at 16.
Cincy gets a bad rap to some degree for a couple of recent knuckleheads.
That’s kind of pathetic how the “best team” has 13 lol
Suspensions get you extensions.
Looks like they’re not winning a playoff for another 3 years lmao
They can give him 25% more than they think he’s worth, because he’ll miss at least 25% of the games suspended.