Burfict loses appeal, four-game suspension official

The NFL officially announced the four-game suspension for Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict that was first reported last month.

The announcement means Burfict lost his appeal of the suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing substances.

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While he is ineligible for the first four games of the regular season, he is eligible to participate in all offseason programs and throughout training camp and the preseason, including practices and games, although in 2016 the Bengals did not play him in the preseason when he was suspended for the first three games due to his hit on Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown in the 2015 AFC Wild-Card playoff game.

The suspension will cost Burfict a little more than $1.6 million, according to overthecap.com. He will lose $896,470 in game checks, plus another $562,500 in 46-man roster incentives that were worked into the three-year, $32.5 million contract he signed in September.

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The contract also subjected his signing bonus to forfeiture, resulting in a pro-rated docking of $223,529.

This is the 12th time the league has suspended or fined Burfict, resulting in more than $3.8 million in lost pay.

Here are the previous 11 infractions:

Week 7, 2017 — $12,154 fine for kicking Pittsburgh's Roosevelt Nix.

Preseason Week 2, 2017 — Three-game suspension (lost salary of $1.4 million) for repeated violations of the player-safety rules after a hit on Kansas City's Anthony Sherman.

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Week 11, 2016 — $12,154 fine for giving middle finger to fans.

Week 6, 2016 — $75,000 fine for stepping on the leg of New England's LeGarrett Blount

AFC Wildcard playoff, 2016 — Three-game suspension (lost salary of $502,941) for repeated violations of player-safety rules after hitting Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown in the head.

Week 17, 2015 — Fined $50,000 for hit on a defenseless player, Baltimore's Maxx Williams

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Week 13, 2015 — Fine $69,454 for three unsportsmanlike incidents against Pittsburgh

Week 6, 2014 — Fined $25,000 for twisting the ankles of Carolina's Cam Newton and Greg Olsen

Week 8, 2013 — Fined $21,000 for spearing New York Jets' Stephen Hill

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Week 3, 2013 — Fined $21,000 for a hit on a defenseless player, Green Bay's James Jones

Week 3, 2013 — Fined $10,000 for striking Green Bay's Ryan Taylor in the groin

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