Bengals cut Vontaze Burfict after 7 seasons

Vontaze Burfict's roller-coaster tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals has come to an end.

The oft-fined, oft-suspended linebacker has been cut by the Bengals after seven seasons, the team announced Monday.

The Bengals reached the playoffs in each of Burfict's first four seasons with the team, winning the AFC North twice. However, after playing full 16-game campaigns in his first two years, the linebacker appeared in just 43 of 80 regular-season games across the five seasons since.

Burfict has dealt with injuries and reportedly suffered the seventh concussion of his career in December.

He's also been suspended in each of the past three calendar years.

The intimidating and ferocious hitter ranks sixth in Bengals history in tackles with 397. He's often waged heated battles with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his career, Burfict has racked up more than $400,000 in fines, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, for various infractions that included spearing, hitting a defenseless player, and stepping on an opponent.

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