Vontaze Burfict was suspended the rest of the season by the NFL for his vicious helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle.
On Monday, after the news broke, Colts head coach Frank Reich applauded the NFL for its decisive move.
“I was just thankful the league took the action that it did and support the league and the decision,” he said, per The Herald Bulletin. “(I) did have a reaction yesterday (on the sideline). When someone does something like that and attacks one of your players – that’s just not supposed to be in the game.
“Then when it’s against one of your players, you naturally have a reaction. I’m just glad they did what they did at the game and the follow-up action seems very appropriate.”
The Oakland Raiders linebacker has a long, extensive history of targeting opposing players, resulting in more than $5 million in money lost due to fines and suspensions.
In the letter sent to Burfict by the NFL, vice president of football operations Jon Runyan made it clear that the lengthy suspension was due to that long history, writing, “you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designed to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk.”
Burfict is going to appeal the suspension. There is a chance the league may reduce the suspension, but clearly the NFL is sending a strong message. And it’s one that Reich, and many others, clearly support.