KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill say they respect controversial Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, despite his history of questionable hits. On Friday, Kelce and Hill were also clear in praising Burfict’s talents while they answered questions from reporters about Burfict’s aggressive antics during games. Other NFL players, however, consider Burfict to be a dirty player, or at least someone who has demonstrated boorish behavior between plays.
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Still, Kelce and Hill, the Chiefs’ top receivers, chose to be diplomatic.
Both Kelce and Hill will run many routes in the middle of the field on Sunday when the Chiefs (5-1) face the Bengals (4-2). Burfict will try to control that portion of the field as one of the league’s most intimidating defenders. Kelce and Hill say they don’t expect Burfict to inflict any serious damage that would be considered illegal.
“I know 55 personally,” Kelce said of Burfict after Friday’s practice. “I don’t think he’s out for anybody. I think it’s just the way he plays the game. Either you’ve got a guy like that on your team or you don’t.”
The Steelers, one of the Bengals’ bitter rivals, feel differently about Burfict. With 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the 2015 AFC wildcard game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, Burfict produced his most controversial hit: He sprinted and hit receiver Antonio Brown in the head with his shoulder. Brown fell to the ground immediately and missed the following week’s game with a concussion. Burfict was later suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season.
#Bengals pic.twitter.com/G9REnKA5pj
— Next Man Up (@spottingboard) October 15, 2018
Brown was also Burfict’s victim in last week’s matchup between the two teams. Brown caught a pass from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in midfield and tried to gain a few additional yards while being tackled by rookie safety Jessie Bates and Shawn Williams. As the play appeared to be over, Burfict rushed Brown and used his right elbow to hit him (and Bates) in the head. Brown was evaluated for a concussion after the play, but later returned to score the game-winning touchdown.
All these ridiculous “Roughing the Passer” calls and THIS is missed?
You serious @NFL?
Vontaze Burfict is a punk. Deliberate shot to the head of Antonio Brown! #Bengals pic.twitter.com/AJuiWy8Sox
— Mike Drakulich (Pittsburgh SportsNation) (@PghSportsNation) October 14, 2018
“A nasty hit,” Brown said after the game. “I was grateful to get back up and come back in.”
Burfict’s actions were not penalized by the referees. Before the next play, Roethlisberger said Burfict pointed at receiver Juju Smith-Schuster and shouted at him in saying, “You’re next!” Last season, Smith-Schuster targeted and executed an illegal crackback block on Burfict in a retaliation move for Brown’s concussion in 2015.
This is the play Ben Roethlisberger claims Vontaze Burfict yelled “You’re next!” at Juju Smith-Schuster. You can see Burfict point at Smith-Schuster twice here. pic.twitter.com/WVLXCwtlPw
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 16, 2018
Hill, the NFL’s fastest player, said he did watch Burfict’s hit of Brown. Even with Burfict’s reputation, Hill said he loves the passion that the linebacker plays with.
“If I was (defensive) coordinator, and I had to choose any linebacker in the NFL, I would definitely choose him,” Hill said of Burfict. “He’s definitely that hard-nosed, solid tackler. I ain’t going to lie, man: Some of the stuff he do is, like, kind of over the border. I like him as a player. You’re always going to the whistle, especially if you’ve got the ball in your hands. You know defenses run to the ball. You’ve just got to make plays against this defense.”
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Coach Andy Reid didn’t spend much time on Burfict and his behavior during the team’s preparation of the Bengals. Reid hoped his decision to not give Burfict any extra attention before Sunday’s game would be followed by his players.
“I am not even going to get into him,” Reid said of Burfict. “I would tell you that their defense not only has a good front, but also that secondary, those two corners (William Jackson and Dre Kirkpatrick), are good players. The linebackers, they fly around and do a good job.”
Entering this season, Burfict served a four-game suspension for violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He was also hit with a three-game suspension last season, reduced from five games, after a vicious hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman while he ran a route during the second game of the 2017 preseason. Sherman declined to be interviewed after Friday’s practice.
This season, Burfict has recorded 15 tackles and two pass breakups. Kelce plans on treating Burfict the same as any other linebacker he plays against. He expects Burfict will try to push him off his route and hit him hard when he has the ball. Kelce believes he and Burfict will not let their emotions lead to an unsportsmanlike incident.
“I’ve seen him off the field,” Kelce said of Burfict. “He seems as personable as anybody else. He doesn’t seem like he’s got hate out here for somebody else. I think he’s just a very physical football player. I’m not defending the guy. I just know that everything with me and him has been cool.
“Last week, I was getting chipped at the line of scrimmage. You’ve got to be aware on the football field at all times. These are grown men with pads and reckless abandon. I don’t think this week is any different.”
Injury Update
Safety Eric Berry (sore right heel) and outside linebacker Justin Houston (strained hamstring) didn’t participate in Friday’s shortened practice. Both players are listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. If both are unavailable, it would be just the fourth game in the last six seasons that the pair has been on the sideline at the same time.
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Center Mitch Morse is out for Sunday’s game (concussion protocol). Guard Jeff Allen, after his first week of practice with the team, could be active as a backup swing lineman against the Bengals.
“From what I’ve seen, he looked good and kind of got back in the swing,” Reid said of Allen. “I don’t think he’s too far off of getting in there and rolling.”
Two defenders who are set to return Sunday are safety Eric Murray (sprained ankle) and outside linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon (sprained ankle). Both players are listed as questionable, as Murray was a full participant in Friday’s practice and Kpassagnon was a limited participant. Reid said he wasn’t sure if Murray would be a starter if he plays Sunday.
“We’ll see how that works,” Reid said. “We’re just kind of getting him back in the swing right now. He’s got a few things he’s doing.”
Inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens, who is battling a groin injury, was a full participant in Friday’s practice after being limited Thursday.
“He’s practiced, so he’s all right,” Reid said of Hitchens.
(Top photo of Burfict and Sherman: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)