The rest of the AFC North might sleep easier Monday night. The Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly released hard-hitting linebacker Vontaze Burfict, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

The 28-year-old Burfict has made a name for himself with his aggressive, and sometimes reckless playing style. Last season, Burfict recorded 33 tackles in seven games with the Bengals. He missed the first four games of the season after violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Over the years, Burfict has developed a reputation of being involved in some questionable plays. He has been suspended and fined multiple times for illegal hits since he entered the league.

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Despite missing games due to violations and suspensions, Burfict emerged as an integral part of Marvin Lewis’ defenses in Cincinnati. With Zac Taylor taking over as head coach, the team decided to go a different direction.

Burfict will look to hook on with a team during the offseason. While he’s put up strong numbers in the past, his propensity for fines and suspensions could impact how many teams go after him on the free-agent market.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik

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