CINCINNATI -- The Bengals and linebacker Vontaze Burfict have come to an agreement on a contract extension, according to multiple reports.
ESPN.com's Adam Schefter and NFL.com's Ian Rapoport both reported the deal to be for four years and worth more than $20 million. There has been no announcement or confirmation of the deal by the Bengals.
Burfict led the NFL in tackles last season in just his second season in the league. He was considered a first-round draft talent at Arizona State but after a junior season in which he had numerous on-field incidents and then several poor workouts prior to the draft, teams shied away from Burfict. He and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis developed a bond during that pre-draft stage, however, and the Bengals signed him after the draft.
Burfict has started every game for the Bengals since the third game of his rookie season in 2012 after an injury to Thomas Howard. He has played the WILL outside linebacker spot for them in the team's 4-3 base defensive alignment but plays inside in nickel packages. He was a second-team AP All-Pro selection last season and earned his first Pro Bowl berth.
NFL official game stats credited Burfict with 171 tackles last season but Bengals coaches had him at 204 tackles after their game reviews.
Either way, Burfict has proven he has a nose for the football.
Burfict was entering the final year of his rookie contract and was due a base salary of $570,000 according to the web site Over The Cap, which keeps tracks of NFL contracts. Burfict would have been eligible to become a restricted free agent next offseason without the contract extension. According to the NFL.com report, Burfict stands to be paid nearly $10 million in new money through next spring.
This is the second major contract extension for the Bengals this month. Quarterback Andy Dalton signed a seven-year extension on Aug. 4.
