Marvin Lewis Defends Vontaze Burfict After LB Receives $75,000 Fine

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is in trouble with the league again, but his coach is on his side.On Wednesday, Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk first reported Burfict received a $75,000 fine for stomping on New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount's leg after a play in Week 6.According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, the team is appealing the fine, and head coach Marvin Lewis defended his defensive star."I don't think he did anything wrong," Lewis said. "We were not in the wrong here, in my opinion. And it's unfortunate. That's what I have told and stood on and will continue to. ... I don't think he meant to do anything."According to ESPN Stats & Info, Burfict has been fined $279,329 over the course of his career for various on-field incidents, the highest total in the NFL since he entered the league in 2012.The league also suspended him for three games at the start of the 2016 season for "repeated violations of player-safety rules."Whether he is being unfairly targeted for his reputation or not, the 26-year-old is consistently involved in questionable plays. In addition to his incident with Blount on Sunday, he also added a low hit on tight end Martellus Bennett in the same game:He was not disciplined for the hit on Bennett, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Although the fines have added up for Burfict, Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams thinks the punishment should go further:If the linebacker continues to be involved in questionable plays before and after the whistle, he could be in line for another suspension in the future.
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