The NFL will hear the appeal of Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s suspension on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Burfict was suspended for the rest of the season after his helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle on Sunday. The length of the ban was influenced by the linebacker’s on-field history.
“Following each of your previous rule violations, you were warned by me and each of the jointly-appointed appeal officers that future violations would result in escalated accountability measures,” NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Burfict. “However, you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk.
“Your extensive history of rules violations is factored into this decision regarding accountability measures.”
Under the collective bargaining agreement, Burfict has the right to appeal the suspension. The appeal will be heard by former linebacker Derrick Brooks, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and former NFL wideout James Thrash. They are the two appeals officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
Brooks heard Burfict’s appeal and upheld a three-game ban for a hit on then-Steelers wideout Antonio Brown in a playoff game following the 2015 season. In 2016, Thrash reduced Burfict’s five-game suspension — for a hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman — to three games.
The Raiders face the Chicago Bears on Sunday in London.