No bad blood here.
After being released by the Bengals after seven seasons in Cincinnati, linebacker Vontaze Burfict became the Raiders’ latest free-agent acquisition, agreeing to a one-year deal Tuesday. Burfict will join former on-the-field adversary Antonio Brown in Oakland.
“We’re on the same team,” Burfict said, according to ESPN.com. “It’s one goal. It’s all positive man. He’s a great player. … I’m going to approach him just like I do all my other teammates. … There’s nothing negative here. We’re on the same team. We’re trying to win a championship here.”
Burfict appears to have buried the hatchet with Brown following a helmet-to-helmet hit during the AFC wild-card game in January 2016, which resulted in Burfict being suspended for three games and Brown being sidelined for the remainder of the postseason. The former Steelers receiver also endured a “nasty hit” by Burfict last year.
Burfict later said he and Brown could end up as “the closest friends on the team,” and the wideout confirmed Tuesday on Twitter the pair had spoken.
“Just talked @King55Tez black and silver baby #RaiderNation #BullySeason,” Brown wroter.
Burfict is also excited about working with former Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther again. Their chat was delayed, however, following Burfict’s release.
“He didn’t pick up. I think I called him seven times straight,” Burfict said.
Guenther was named the Raiders defensive coordinator last year after holding the post for four years in Cincinnati.


