Reggie Miller Likens Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict to a Young Ron Artest

Many people have sounded off about Vontaze Burfict in recent days after the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker made yet another questionable hit during Saturday's Wild Card Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not only did Burfict's costly hit result in a 15-yard penalty (which ultimately led to another 15-yard penalty on Adam "Pacman" Jones), but he has since been suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season. While many want to see the suspension extended, or perhaps have Burfict banned from the NFL, there is at least one person who believes the 25-year-old linebacker can clean up his act.

That would be former Indiana Pacers star and current TNT analyst Reggie Miller.

On Monday, Miller went on The Dan Patrick Show and talked about Burfict's latest controversy. Miller doesn't see Burfict as a lost cause, comparing the linebacker to a former Pacers teammate, Ron Artest.

Artest, aka Metta World Peace, is best known for his role in the Malice at the Palace incident involving the Detroit Pistons and their fans. Artest was suspended for the remainder of the 2004-05 season, which wound up being an 86-game ban.

While it would have been easy for Artest—who had turned 25 just six days before the brawl—to continue down the road he was on, the forward turned his career around by cleaning up his game. Now, more than a decade after seeing his career in jeopardy, the 36-year-old is still playing in the NBA.

That's the type of turnaround Miller believes the 25-year-old Burfict can have. Both Artest and Burfict showed plenty of potential early in their respective careers, but played with an edge that sometimes crossed the line. World Peace has obviously figured it out. Can Burfict learn to avoid the controversy?

[The Dan Patrick Show]