NFL suspends Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for three games
Tuesday 12 January 2016 07:27, UK
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been given a three-game suspension for repeated violations of player safety rules by the NFL.
His punishment came after he struck Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown in the head with a blindside hit on a pass during Saturday's playoff game.
Burfict "was penalized for unnecessary roughness for using his shoulder to make forcible contact to the head and neck area of a defenceless receiver," the NFL said in a news release.
The controversial play helped the Steelers pull off a comeback 18-16 win that ended the Bengals' season.
Brown is currently in concussion protocol and is a doubt for Pittsburgh's next playoff game at Denver on Sunday.
Burfict will serve the suspension next season, pending any appeal he makes.
Burfict was fined four-times for safety violations last year, including a $50,000 penalty for unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of the play in Cincinnati's Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
