Controversial Bengals defender Vontaze Burfict ejected for making contact with official, taunts crowd while leaving field

Frank Victores/AP

• Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was ejected on Sunday for making contact with an official.
• Burfict taunted fans and made a “money” sign while walking off the field.
• Burfict served a three-game suspension earlier this season for hitting a defenseless player and has reportedly accrued over $300,000 worth of fines over his career.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontze Burfict was ejected from a game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday for making contact with an official.

The incident with the official was Burfict’s second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the day. Burfict was also whistled for a late hit on Titans running back DeMarco Murray two plays earlier.

While the contact with the official wasn’t particularly egregious, the Titans seemed to provoke Burfict, who has a reputation for hits that have been deemed dirty. As referees separated Burfict and several Titans players, Burfict pushed a referee off of him.

Here was the play:

Burfict then took his time getting off the field, taunting fans while making the Johnny Manziel-inspired “money” sign.

Burfict was suspended for three games earlier this season for making contact with a defenseless player in the preseason. According to ESPN, he has been fined over $300,000 for on-field infractions over his career.

Given Burfict’s history and reputation, he may serve additional punishment for the incident on Sunday.