NFL Rumors: Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Linebacker Vontaze Burfict Impressing at Camp
Rookies in the NFL are already facing an uphill battle already. Roster sizes are limited and with so much talent across the league, you really have to make the most of your time to keep your NFL dream alive. To do it as an undrafted free agent is even harder but Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict is doing just that.
Going back to his career at Arizona State University, Burfict showed flashes that reminds scouts and draftniks alike of players like Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. His level of athleticism and physical aggression were impressive. But along those same lines while you looked forward to the big plays Burfict was bound to make on offense, at the same time you just held your breath for the errant personal foul that kept an opponents drive moving or gave the other team some other sort of advantage.
This sort of Jekyll and Hyde type of play made scouting him a challenge. You mix in some off field problems and in the months leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft you saw a player who was almost a lock to go in the first 2 rounds removed from the draft boards of many NFL teams altogether. And with that Burfict went undrafted.
Ironically, it was the Bengals, a team known for taking on the troubled souls of the NFL and their head coach Marvin Lewis who decided to give Burfict a shot. It’s a longshot, but he’s making the every snap count.
Reports out of Bengals camp are Burfict has come into camp in shape, been a model citizen, and has shown his trademark aggression and physical play minus the mental lapses that he was so known for in college. Granted this is just training camp and we have yet to see what he can do in a preseason game, but all early indications are Burfict has turned a corner on correcting his character concerns and is looking to be a steal for the Bengals this year. He’s showing that sideline to sideline speed and finishing ability he was so known for in college. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s able to make a good showing of himself in the preseason that he finds himself as a primary backup to the starting linebackers from week 1.
My take-Prior to the draft, I have Burfict as a first round pick, but as things started to unravel for him, I had to grade him down. I always said he had a $1 million talent and a ten cent head. I love his throwback aggressive style and even though he’s playing for a AFC North foe of my Pittsburgh Steelers, I hope he plays well 14 games a year.
Follow me on twitter at @nfldraftboard
