Vontaze Burfict Fined, Avoids Suspension for Stomping LeGarrette Blount

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was not suspended for stomping New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount on Sunday, but he did get hit with a $75,000 fine. 

Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk first reported the penalty Wednesday, and he added that Burfict will appeal because the defender does not believe he stomped on Blount. Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Adam Schefter of ESPN later confirmed the news, and both noted Burfict has appealed.

ESPN's Mike Reiss provided NFL coaches film from the incident, and it appears to show Burfict making a stomping motion in Blount's direction, who responded by pushing the former Pro Bowler:

Burfict's fine came one day after ESPN's Ed Werder reported the following from a Bengals source regarding the linebacker's actions during the scuffle:

The Arizona State product was involved in several chippy situations during Cincinnati's 35-17 loss, as he got in Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's face on multiple occasions.

Also, as seen in this video, Burfict hit Martellus Bennett low after Pats quarterback Tom Brady pump-faked in his direction:

Burfict is no stranger to controversial plays, as this fine marks the ninth of his NFL career, per Werder:

The 26-year-old veteran was also suspended for the first three games of the 2016 campaign due to an illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in last season's playoffs. That added three missed game checks to his already hefty fine total:

Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams commented on the NFL's decision via Twitter:

The NFL's former head of officiating Mike Pereira also spoke out against Burfict on the Rich Eisen Show, per Paul Dehner Jr. and Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

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“If it's a large fine and not games they don’t have any guts. I mean, the guy was suspended for the first three games of the season. So you pile on, you pile on punishment when you look at history, and he has history dating all the way back to college for God’s sakes. Obviously it doesn’t apply in the NFL, but I don’t see how they can do anything but suspend him because it was not a football act. He didn’t lead with the helmet trying to break up a pass. He didn’t do that. This was just a dead, you know, cheap, intentional cheap shot. So to me, I’m like shocked if the NFL doesn’t maintain some leverage here and get rid of him for another couple of games."

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Burfict is a difference-maker on the field, as he racked up over 120 tackles in each of his first two NFL seasons despite going undrafted in 2012.

The past few years have been overshadowed by injuries and questionable hits, however, and the focus has shifted from Burfict's strong play to his lack of discipline.

Even so, the 2-4 Bengals cannot afford to be without him, with their playoff hopes slipping. But the fact that he wasn't suspended is a major coup for the team as it attempts to get back in the AFC North hunt.

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