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Vontaze Burfict & Alfonzo Dennard Had A Terrible NFL Draft

Vontaze Burfict signs with Bengals, Alfonzo Dennard drafted by PatriotsIt was a great weekend for the more than 230 players who were selected in the 2012 NFL Draft, but a not so hot one for two players who were in total free fall.

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict of Arizona State was projected as a late first round draft choice six months ago. Unfortunately for Burfict, he earned himself numerous red flags during a disastrous offseason, leading up to the NFL combine in February, where he performed very poorly. 

The LA area native went undrafted during the three-day New York City extravaganza, instead signing as an undrafted free agent with none other than the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska did not fare much better. Five days before the draft, Dennard was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest outside a Lincoln (NE) bar. He was released on bond and faces up to five years in jail and a fine of $10.000 if convicted. 

Projected as a second round draft pick, Dennard plummeted all the way down to the middle of the 7th round, where he was selected by the Patriots. The arrest could cost Dennard as much as $300,000 in salary. 

Incidentally, the Patriots and Bengals graded out as two of the top four draft classes, along with Tampa Bay and San Diego.

 

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Bruce has traveled the world, both working for and covering a wide array of the sports world’s greatest events. Below is a sampling of the level of experience and perspective he brings to ifollosports.com.

OLYMPIC GAMES:  
Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Beijing 2008     
*Editor of the Official Report of the 1984 Olympic Games

PAN AMERICAN GAMES:   
Caracas 1983, Indianapolis 1987, Havana 1991, Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999



WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES:   
Zagreb 1987, Duisberg 1989, Sheffield 1991, Buffalo 1993, Fukuoka 1995, Sicily 1997, Palma de Mallorca 1999 

USA TRACK AND FIELD:     
World Championships (Helsinki 1983), World Junior Championships (Athens 1986), World Cup (Rome 1981), World Cup (Havana 1992), Pan American Junior Championships (Barqisimeto 1982, Orlando 1986)  Editor of USATF annual calendar project (1980-1991) and Cross Country handbook (1979-1991) 

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: 
World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

ASSOCIATED PRESS     
Correspondent covering the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA Bruins basketball, track and field, and swimming 1977-1989
  

A California native, Bruce is a 
graduate of UCLA and resides in Venice Beach.

 

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