Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict "likely" to have surgery

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is likely to have an additional procedure done on his left knee during the offseason to "further repair what wasn't fixed when had surgery on Oct. 29", writes Richard Skinner with the Cincinnati Enquirer... which makes you wonder, was his eventual placement on Injured Reserve due to a questionable procedure? We won't offer any additional speculation, other than... "what the heck, man?"

Bengals.com writes:

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has been told Pro Bowl WILL linebacker Vontaze Burfict will recover from his knee problem in time for next season. He says he’s been told Burfict is trending toward surgery to fix the knee that knocked him out of the last nine games of the season, but it hasn't been finalized.

Durability has been the core issue for Burfict in 2014, starting with concussions that forced him out during the regular season opener against Baltimore and the ensuing game against Atlanta. Burfict was given a three-week break by sitting out against the Titans and Patriots with a bye week between them. He returned against Carolina and finished second on the team with 10 tackles and first with two ankle tugs (c'mon, have a laugh). A cervical strain prematurely ended his game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.

Then Cincinnati's pro bowl linebacker reached his end. After Cincinnati's 27-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 29, the team found "something floating in his knee". Burfict said that the injury happened in the first quarter, but thought it was only a bruise. Burfict underwent arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 27. The team announced that Burfict would miss a couple of weeks, but could have a shot against the New Orleans Saints.

"What you are talking about is something that can float in there but the problem is if it locks in the joint then your leg locks or also the fact if you leave it in there and you continue to try to play which is what his initial thought was you can do some further damage," head coach Marvin Lewis said via the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"You don't want to do that. When the adrenaline is going and things like that unless it's in the joint it's fine the problem is you don't want it to get stuck in the joint and cause issue. That's why the best thing to do is to bite the bullet right now and get it removed and get him back rehabbing and get him healthy for the rest of the way."

Burfict entered this season as the team's leading tackler in 2012 and 2013, where the totaled 204 stops, 94 more than the second-place finisher (Rey Maualuga). Burfict earned a roster spot on the pro bowl team and a second-team mention on the Associated Press All-Pro team. The Bengals signed Burfict to a contract extension (four-year, $19 million with $6.9 million guaranteed) on Aug. 27, keeping him in Cincinnati through 2017.