Where do I start with this Once-Was. "King Tez" he playfully refers to himself as on social media has been a controversial key player on the Cincinnati defense since 2012. What I once called hard nosed downhill football player has slowly turned into an out of shape penalty machine. It is an absolute shame what 55 has evolved into.
In the 2018 season Vontaze only produced 33 combined total tackles throughout the entire season. This pales in comparison to past seasons such as 2016 where he sat at 101 combined total tackles and his best season in 2013 where he dominated the league at 177 total combined tackles. I mean shit...177 is pretty damn good. At one point there was talk that he was one of the best linebackers in the league. Sadly this is no more....16 solo tackles in the 2018 season makes me want to puke.
Tez only played in seven games this past season racking up $112, 000 in fines for supposed bad hits, a four game suspension for PED violations, and sat out for two games (Weeks 8 &10) due to a hip injury. One could argue his lack of stats is due to just not being on the field. I, a one time Vontaze Burfict fanboy think the man looked fat and slow all season. He was a shell of the once athletic freak that used to just rip offenses apart. He was unable to get up and go like he used to, his tackling was reminisce of a sorority girl in her powderpuff football game, and he looked pregnant for half the season.
So here is the conundrum... To keep or trade? Should Vontaze Burfict be on the Cincinnati roster come 2019 season kickoff? Is he worth anything in trade, or is his shit reputation ultimately his downfall? What team in their right mind would take a risk on this head case? Can he turn himself around and become even a fragment of the beast he used to be?
we can only hope he has a come to Jesus with himself and kicks his ass in gear but from my current foxhole it sure looks like he will be the same old penalty yard earning has been he was last year. When it is all said and done only time will tell where 55 winds up and in what capacity. If it is with another team so be it. If that does happen the Bengals have a large hole to fill in that line backing corps.
WHODEY
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