Cincinnati Bengals Took No Risks in Signing LB Vontaze Burfict

The Cincinnati Bengals have nothing to lose and a lot to gain from recently-added rookie free agent linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

Burfict, who possesses first- or second-round talent, fell completely off of teams' draft boards thanks to erratic on- and off-field behavior, a seeming disregard for the process of the NFL Scouting Combine, and a positive drug test that was revealed in the days leading up to the 2012 NFL draft, leaving him a man without a team when the event wrapped Saturday night.

But, everyone knew that Burfict would be quickly snapped up as an undrafted free agent. Burfict's talent is hard to deny, and with all the red flags surrounding him, it's understandable why teams didn't risk a draft pick on the former ASU Sun Devil. But he's certainly worth a roster spot.

Enter the Cincinnati Bengals, a team long thought to have more than cursory interest in Burfict in the past few months. The Bengals have never shied away from taking players who were considered character risks, and while that has earned them some ridicule, it's a savvy move.

A draft pick, even a late-round pick, is a valuable thing, and a finite quantity. But with teams allowed to currently have as many of 90 players on the offseason roster, taking what can't even be described as a flier on Burfict is a smart move by Cincy.

Burfict is an impact player. He's a mean, vicious linebacker who could seriously be a star in the NFL if he can get and remain focused. The Bengals have a shot to do just that with him, and if he doesn't stick, then it serves as a good indicator of what he can (or rather, cannot) accomplish elsewhere.

Burfict, for what it's worth, reacted to the news that the Bengals would be taking a chance on him positively. He said he looks forward to watching and learning from the team's top linebacker, Rey Maualuga, and would be happy backing him up, playing alongside him, or even taking his spot (not entirely impossible, though it would take quite a camp performance from the undrafted rookie).

At the moment, Burfict is one of 90 Bengals hoping to snag one of 53 active roster spots. There's little risk in having him around now and cutting him later, considering it costs them little to do so.

Using a draft pick on Burfict could have been described—at best—as high-risk, high-reward; snagging him as a free agent is considerably lower risk, but the high reward part remains. It was a smart move by Mike Brown, one that could pay off handsomely. And if it doesn't, they're no worse for wear.

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