Marvin Lewis downplays report Burfict being provoked by referees

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis downplayed an ESPN report Monday that officials are provoking linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

An unnamed Bengals player told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that officials have antagonized Burfict at least three times in the last month, including cursing at him.

The report comes after Burfict was ejected Sunday for making contact with an official in the Bengals' 24-20 loss at Tennessee .

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“Officials have a job to do, and I’ve explained this to Vontaze, and he understands that,” Lewis said when asked about the report. “They have a job to do and they are going to separate players, and players are in a situation where they are there. That’s not what this is about, where the NFL should be. So, get back to the huddle and get going, and that’s the most important thing. We don’t need to jaw with anyone after the play, any of the players, so that’s important.

“It would shock me if those things occur,” Lewis continued. “I know on occasions supposedly they have, but again, that would shock me.”

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Burfict made contact with down judge Jeff Bergman after the official put his arm up to stop a back-and-forth with a Titans offensive lineman following a touchdown-saving tackle on quarterback Marcus Mariota late in the second quarter.

Two plays earlier, Burfict was called for a personal foul after a late hit on DeMarco Murray out of bounds. Murray scored on the play after Burfict’s ejection to put the Titans ahead 14-6 with 5:12 left in the half.

“It obviously hurts,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said Monday. “He doesn’t help us being in the locker room, that’s the point. Obviously when you’re already playing a lot of young guys and you’re putting another young guy in there for him that didn’t have a lot of reps during the week, it factors.”

ESPN reported that Burfict will not be suspended, but the incident will be reviewed for a possible fine. Burfict already had been suspended for the first three games of this season and last and has been disciplined by the league 11 times by fine or suspension, resulting in losses of more than $2.5 million.

Burfict declined to speak to reporters Monday.

Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap said Burfict has been working to improve his behavior but still walks a fine line with officials because of his past.

“The way they respond to him is somewhat provoking because in the heat of those situations maybe, if it’s in between the play before the whistle still and somebody comes up and grabs him and you’re not looking at him…,” Dunlap said, trailing off. “It is what it is. You’ve just got to know somebody is watching.”

“At the end of the day, you have to control what you can control and that’s to not be in those situations,” Dunlap continued. “That’s something I’ve talked with Tez about, and he’s worked at it and improved a whole lot, but he’s still got to keep working on it. What happened yesterday could have gone either way.”

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