Report: Mike Brown calls ‘part of the charges’ against Burfict ‘suspect’

Vontaze Burfict was activated Thursday in time to play for the Bengals against the Dolphins.

Whether he changes a style of play that has made him both a star and a controversial player remains to be seen, but it appears he has at least one supporter in a high place.

Bengals owner Mike Brown told the Sporting News in an interview published Thursday the linebacker "has to be controlled," but he also hinted the club might think he has gotten a bad rap.

“I would tell you that, in our eyes, a lot of what has been part of the charges against him, if you will, is suspect,” Brown said. “We don’t see it that way. There may be some things that are a little bit farther out than they should be but I could talk about each and every one of them and tell you, well, what about this or are you sure about that. We don’t see it quite like you’re saying.”

Questioning NFL officiating – or the league's rules, for that matter – isn't rare these days, but it's certainly interesting to get some insight into the team's feelings about Burfict and his situation.