Fansided

25 athletes everyone hates (unless they’re on your team)

By Jeremy Lambert

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 3: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stays loose on the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 3: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stays loose on the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 24: Vontaze Burfict #55 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 24: Vontaze Burfict #55 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Vontaze Burfict

Here’s an exchange I had with a Bengals fan friend of mine.

“Do you like Burfict?”

“As a player, sure. As somebody that can’t be relied on to play the first few games of the season due to suspension ever, not particularly.”

“If he wasn’t on your team would you like him?”

“Nah.”

That about sums it up.

Burfict has earned his reputation as being one of the dirtiest players in the league by, well, being one of the dirtiest players in the league. Whether he’s head hunting or ankle twisting, he’s always looking for a way to not so legally take the opponent out of the game.

Bengals fans would point to Burfict’s clean record off the field as to why he stayed in their good graces. Sure, he was trying to decapitate every receiver on the Steelers, but at least he wasn’t going to the strip club and harassing workers like a certain teammate.

That changed earlier this year when Burfict was busted for performance enhancing drugs, earning him another suspension to start next season.

Opposing fans don’t dislike Burfict because he’s going to kill their team in a football sense. He’s a good player, but no one considers him one of the best linebackers in the game. No, Burfict is one of those guys who only seems to play because of that “edge” he plays with. Coaches like that he’s going to keep opposing receivers honest when crossing the middle, because if their head is down, he’ll make sure to lift their chin up.

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