Burfict: I just hate to lose
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Burfict: I just hate to lose
Jonathan Tamari
Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict, a big hitter whose discipline problems have dropped his draft stock, told reporters Sunday that he's the best linebacker in the draft, a leader who will change the defense wherever he goes, and that the penalties he racked up come from the fact that "I just love to hit and just hate to lose."
"I'm a soft-spoken guy, shy sometimes, but when I'm on the field I just hate to lose," Burfict said.
Burfict's highlight-reel hits have some fans dreaming of him as the attitude-changing linebacker the Eagles need, but scouts have questioned his instincts and self control. He had a down season for Arizona State last year, was benched at times and got into a locker room fight with a teammate.
Reports at the time said Burfict threw the first punch, but he gave a different account, saying the altercation began in a seven-on-seven drill that wasn't supposed to involve hitting. Burfict said the receiver hit him anyway.
"We had a little argument and brung it into the locker room, we started chatting about it, he started rough-housing me and pushed me, and my first instinct was to swing on him," Burfict said. "Everybody thinks I'm a bad guy because my instinct was to swing on him."
He later added, "I know this is a business now and there's things you cannot do in a business."
On the field, Burfict said he gained weight -- going up to 260 pounds last season -- and that it made him tire faster. He told reporters he's now down to 248.
"I think that I'll come in and just change the whole atmosphere of a team. I'm a leader, and just bring aggression to the game on the whole side of the defense," Burfict said. He said he tries to model his game after Ray Lewis and Nick Barnett, and has big dreams for his NFL career.
At one point Burfict was considered a top-of-the-draft talent, but his stock has dropped amid questions of whether he can harness ihs potential.
"I love being coached, want to be better and hopefully in the Hall of Fame one day," he said.
But he laid some of the blame for his disappointing season on his coaches.
"I thought I played average (last year). I could have played better," he said. "Coaches kind of messed me up. I didn't know if I was going to start a game, I didn’t know if I was going to be benched, so it hurt me at point in times, but I tried to fight through it."
Forgot to post link, this is for people who enjoy facts.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/robert-griffin-iii-blows-away-nfl-combine-40-180618342.html;_ylt=AgsBlCdCRpFN5yJTCNoXUUY5nYcB— Over_Exposed- Only if he drops down to the 2nd round - Kueckly in the 1st— Bobphxville
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Like Roseman, Banner, all of the sportwriters, Mel Kiper, Mike Mayock and nearly all of the posters here, I have only played left recliner and right couch as far as football goes.
However, G Cobb actually has played the position, and he thinks Dont'a Hightower is the man:
http://gcobb.com/2012/02/16/donta-hightower-has-tremendous-ability-vs-the-passing-game/
Therefore, so do I.
— banned - I don't know. He sounds like a bit of a head case. That is not always bad per se, but it's a risky business. Warren Sapp was avoided and so was Randy Moss - look how those two guys turned out. But those guys had can't miss talent. This guy had a down year. Makes it not such of a sure thing.— CaptainCrunch
- Ozzie Newsome will NOT waste his first pick on a linebacker who today is probably slower than Ray Lewis is!— gnarlyscuzz
- I saw ASU three times this season and this dude was a non-factor. He'll be bouncing in a Tempe bar in 2015.— 5280philly
- His poor play was his coaches' fault? This guy is poison! Forget about him.— chuck60
- One more example of a great talent with NO brains....Stupid is as stupid does....and can't you wait till he is calling the dfense signals....(I think not)....and now is when you need a John Runyon or a Brain Dawkins in the locker room to straighten this knuclehead out......The big boys don't allow some stupid jerk to mess with thier careers.....— nuggett
- Undisciplined future crackhead. PASS!— Jerome99RIP
- If he hates to lose, he should avoid this team...— Nicher
- Don't worry, he'll end up on the Giants, or the Cowboys. Teams with vision. After this draft, it'll become clearer, if it already hasn't, why our team is the ONLY team in the NFC East WITHOUT a Super Bowl trophy.— essell
- The Cowboys have "vision"? Of what, 3rd place?— p-diddy
- I'd love to get him in round two— dragoon6
- Over Exposed
My typo. Forty time should have read "4.42", a pretty good time for him. Perhaps, if you had given it a bit of thought, and/or actually looked at Floyd's time, you would have seen the error. Apparently you're more interested in being the superior being. Get over yourself.— BrianM8614 - What is wrong with the Philly Sports Columnists. Is that they lack the vision of the draft. Why don't they try to find out who scouts for the eagles If we are looking for lb's, rbs, etc. Also your stories should recognize what is going on in our own division. Example: Dallas picking ahead of us probably will pick up a linebacker because it has been rumored that their getting rid of two linebackers. In watching the combine yesterday was that an eagle coach or scout? We know about our front office and their "we have to do a better job". Do you have a reporter that can pick the mind of our owner and brass. But what about the scouts and who directs them to pick our potential future players. How about more of that!— jazzy50
