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Mike Mayock assesses Vontaze Burfict's rookie season

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock didn't like Vontaze Burfict's draft chances after watching three game tapes from Arizona State. He does give credit though to the Bengals and Burfict for what he has done his rookie season. Burfict goes into Thursday night's game against the Eagles second on the Bengals in tackles with 129, which is just one behind Rey Maualuga. With a start on Thursday, which would be his 12th this season, Burfict would set the team record for most starts by an undrafted player in his rookie year. Linebacker Armegis Spearman also had 11 in 2000. "I was on record as saying point blank on the way he played he was non draftable. I would still stand by it.I saw the same thing NFL teams saw based on the way he played," Mayock said on Tuesday. "I give them (the Bengals) a ton of credit and (linebackers coach) Paul Guenther. First thing they did was get the kid in shape. You could see he was gassed. He looks completely different. I can tell he looks quicker and lighter. He looks like the kid that was advertised a couple years ago. I believe that Cincinnati thought the kid had ability, got him in shape and Guenther has done a good job getting him ready to play."