papz

He's going to have to blow the roof off the building. I was very intrigued with all that pre-season All American ranking and athletic hoopla prior to the combine. But it's become apparent this guy has zero accountability and that's just the biggest turn off there can be for me.

Crusader

Nine days before the NFL draft, Vontaze Burfict was in Las Vegas, hanging out with one of his boys from Tempe, Ariz. It was a one-day vacation for Burfict, who planned to play a little blackjack and roulette, walk the strip, and see a performance by Jabbawockeez, the hip-hop dance crew distinguished by its expressionless white masks.

There may be an analogy there. Burfict, the former Arizona State inside linebacker, might as well be wearing a mask as far as NFL scouts are concerned. For them, he has evolved into a real mystery.

Is he the strong, instinctive playmaker who last September was rated as one of the premier linebackers in the country? Or is he the guy who careened through a disappointing 2011 junior season marked by multiple flagrant fouls, and followed up with a disastrous performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in late February?

"You took a talented football player -- when he started college there, he was a highly recruited kid -- and he slowly regressed into this player that started to get cheap fouls and cheap penalties, and a player who had a horrible Combine workout," an AFC scouting coordinator said. "Not only the workout but the interview portion of the Combine. This is a guy who probably went from a second-round pick to no telling where he's going to fall."

The 6-foot-3 Burfict admitted he struggled to harness his anger on the field, where he had 16 personal foul penalties in his final 26 games for ASU. He also gained some weight last year, going from around 252 pounds to 259. As a result, he played heavier and slower. Although his total tackles dropped from 90 in 2010 to 69, he made seven tackles for losses and had five sacks.

At the Combine in Indianapolis, he bombed both in the drills on the field (he ran a tortoise-like high-4.9 in the 40) and during his interviews with teams. The whole process overwhelmed him.

"Man, I'm always nervous," Burfict said during a telephone conversation from his Vegas hotel room. "But at the Combine, it was a nervous like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Especially looking up at all those coaches. For me to be in that spotlight, it was very nerve-racking."

Read more: Vontaze Burfict working hard to overcome bad reputation, plummeting stock - Dennis Dillon - SI.com

LB isn't a huge need now with the FA signees but this guy I believe could be good to take a look at if he drops past the 4th round.

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

dizzle88

Don't waste a draft pick on him, remember that DT we signed in the 6th round last year that was meant to be a beast, but turned out to be lazy

Spend a draft pick on someone that wants to succeed

halloween 65

Might be just the type of player we need, brain-dead that just reacts. The smart ones haven't been to impressive.

mikesaintfan

Is what your hearing about his football IQ based on that wonderlick test?
I dont put too much faith in that test...but if he is lazy, i dont want him around

Beastmode

Man, I'm always nervous," Burfict said during a telephone conversation from his Vegas hotel room. "But at the Combine, it was a nervous like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Especially looking up at all those coaches. For me to be in that spotlight, it was very nerve-racking

He wouldn't be nervous if he had stayed in shape and prepared for the event. No thanks.

QBREES9

Hey Hey that was the old Saints .

nicebush25

kiper had him in his top 15 before the combine. so there is some talent there

lee909

If Payton was around this season I wouldn't mind taking a shot late on in the draft.But without him there you wonder if he would listen to Spags and Vitt knowing ultimately are not his boss.

RedWings44

Trust me, you don't want him. If you do get him, he will be either A. a steal, or B, a total flop. We at the Lions messageboards were contemplating getting him until his performance/attitude at the combine came about. His poor performance and personality have translated to his drop in draft stock. No one really wants that kind of thing in their lockerroom...I don't think you do either lol