Vontaze Burfict getting some MVP love

[CrashDavisSports]

From ESPN....

No Rest For The Defense

Vontaze Burfict's prolific tackling numbers have vaulted the Cincy LB into the offense-laden MVP field.

60+ million, I am telling you now. He is goign to sign a mega contract when he is due with his age and importance to our defense.

 

[cincygrad]

Nobody is giving a non-pass rushing linebacker 60 million.

 

[cincygrad]

Strike that.... Cushing did receive 55 million in his latest extension. It could be on the table.

The Bengals have all the leverage here though -- Even after next year, they can still offer a qualifying offer (with a first round tender). The only way that have to overpay is if some team offers a big contract and is willing to give up the pick. Given how low Burfict's salary is due to be for the next number of years, his agent would be smart to take a market offer on the guy before he comes up for unrestricted free agency.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Nobody is giving a non-pass rushing linebacker 60 million.

He is the QB of our defense, he makes all the calls, the adjustments, he is the emotional leader, he is a league leader in tackles, can get to the QB if they used him for that, but they do not. It is not his fault he is the coverage LB. He is our Ray Lewis, and potentially, that kind of LB by the time his career is over.

Hopefully he takes a home town discount because Marvin took a chance on him and put him with the right DC to start his career and revive it at the same time.

Burfict is going to get paid, and get paid a lot. Hopefully he takes a lot less to stay here, but I doubt anyone takes much less than FA could supply.

With all the injuries this defense has had this year, it is because of our depth, and the leadership of Burfict that has conitnued to make us relavent.

 

[Cincyfan78]

The defense was good without him.

He makes this defense great. He brings that attitude that the Bengals have been looking for. He brings big play potential, and his leadership and consistency are what make this defense.

Losing Atkins sucked. He's a top 3 DT...but he wasn't the heart and soul of this defense...Burfict is.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I agree, Burficts contributions go way beyond his numbers, and his numbers are All-Pro quality.

Then you factor in his age, his ability to emotionally raise the play of guys around him, and that contract will be big time. I am guessing he will get a Cushing type of contract with 5-8 million extra added on.

So if we want him cheaper, I think we have to do what Grad is talking about, lock him up early also and void one of his crap pay years, then maybe we can get him for maybe 45-50 million if the years are right. Signing bonus this time will be stellar though. Most of his contract will come through bonus though I bet.

25 million signing bonus?

 

[kramer1]

He's good. He's not "great." We'll see in a few years. 60 mil? CYA!

Wipe your chin, Crash. You missed a spot.

 

[Cincyfan78]

He's good. He's not "great." We'll see in a few years. 60 mil? CYA!

Wipe your chin, Crash. You missed a spot.

You're wrong.

He's great. What the LB corps was before him, compared to now is night and day. The last competent LB we had on this team was probably Spikes.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

He's good. He's not "great." We'll see in a few years. 60 mil? CYA!

Wipe your chin, Crash. You missed a spot.

What is this few years thing?

He was signed as a college free agent. Isn't that only a 2 or 3 year deal typically?

 

[cincygrad]

What is this few years thing?

He was signed as a college free agent. Isn't that only a 2 or 3 year deal typically?

He will not be an unrestricted free agent until he puts in 4 years. He can get a 'right of first refusal deal' after his third year. In that deal the Bengals would put a 1st round tender on him. This kind of deal is only worth 2-3 million for one season. Another team could offer him a big contract, but the Bengals would have the right to match - If they didn't match they'd get a first round pick.

His situation will be similar to Victor Cruz. Cruz was given the qualifying offer and then signed an extension before ever making it to unrestricted FA.

 

[cincygrad]

BTW -- Cruz did not get a very good deal in comparison with other FA contracts.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

BTW -- Cruz did not get a very good deal in comparison with other FA contracts.

Well, that is all good to know. Hopefully, the cheap Mike Brown doesn't piss Burfict off too much with his initial tag and low ball offer.

 

[DanBengalfan]

people leave here because we don't serve Gatorade.

 

[kramer1]

Burfict isn't even the team defensive MVP IMO. IMO it's Wallace Gilberry.

Come back at me...

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Burfict isn't even the team defensive MVP IMO. IMO it's Wallace Gilberry.

Come back at me...

Okay.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Burfict isn't even the team defensive MVP IMO. IMO it's Wallace Gilberry.

Come back at me...

Without Burfict...who are our starting LB's at the start of the year? Rey M and Harrison? Rey M and...????

You see how poor the LB position has been. Vinny Rey has played very well, but to outplay Rey M wouldn't take much.

The DL on the other hand started the year out with: Geathers, Dunlap, Johnson, Atkins...

Gillberry has done a great job moving inside and out, but he's not the leader on this defense. Burfict is.

At the begining of the year, if you had said, oh, we lost Gillberry for the year, there would be a collective yawn...if you said that about Burfict, it would be total chaos, and hand-wringing.

 

[kramer1]

Just not seeing it. Gilberry is by FAR IMO the best player on that defense right now. Burfict is a mop up guy. He's good at it, no doubt. He just doesn't make a big impact like Wallace does. In fact, all those tackle numbers are due in large part to Gilberry's dominance.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Just not seeing it. Gilberry is by FAR IMO the best player on that defense right now. Burfict is a mop up guy. He's good at it, no doubt. He just doesn't make a big impact like Wallace does. In fact, all those tackle numbers are due in large part to Gilberry's dominance.

Aren't all LB's just mop-up guys, then? I don't buy that argument at all.

All things being equal, and everyone being healthy you would rather have a defense with Gillberry out there over Burfict, if you could only choose one?

I'd make it the other way around. I like WG, and I think he's a great part of that DL rotation, but if you are building that defense, you will take Burfict well before you take WG.

This isn't to diminish WG's play, he's just not the MVP of this defense.

 

[kramer1]

I'd also argue that Burfict's tackle stats are padded because of the absolute horrendous play by the other LB'ers.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I'd also argue that Burfict's tackle stats are padded because of the absolute horrendous play by the other LB'ers.

I can flip that argument and say that his tackling is that much more important because of the subpar play of the other LB's. We don't want our safeties making the tackle 7 yards down field.