Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s repeated illegal hits have certainly earned him his fair share of detractors.
However, he does seem to have a defender in former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski.
Burfict was suspended by the NFL for the remainder of the season on Monday, after he delivered a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit to Colts tight end Jack Doyle.
Though, in an interview with TMZ Sports, Romanowski called the NFL’s suspension of Burfict, “B*llsh*t. He also likened football to a “battle,” where players have to have a “kill or be killed” mindset.
“You’re in the heat of battle. Your mindset is kill or be killed. Because the offensive linemen are still coming at you. You’re in war. You’re supposed to be able to be violent sometimes and other times you’re supposed to just be able to take your foot off the gas like that. That is hard, my friend.”
I feel for this guy. Do I think he should be fined? Yes. Do I think he should be kicked outta the league? No. I think it is absolutely dead wrong. This guy has handled himself like a pro. And yes, he is a violent mother f’er and I love the way he plays the game of football.”
As far as what punishment Romanowski believes the NFL should have given Burfict?
“I think a fine, maybe a game because there’s previous stuff. Other people just get kicked out of the game. I’ve been kicked out of games for things like that, so I get it. But, for him to be suspended for the season, I think is bulls**t.”
As TMZ Sports reports, Burfict and Romanowski are friends. Burfict has been disciplined 13 times for illegal hits throughout his 8-year NFL career.Burfict is expected to appeal his suspension.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn