The team put out a statement on Sunday night that they did not feel the hit in question on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman was dirty.

“I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best,” Burfict told Geoff Hobson of the team’s site, referring to his appeal of the five-game suspension.

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith threw the ball downfield, and at the same time Burfict decked Sherman near the line of scrimmage even though he wasn’t part of the play.

“The film shows that the hit was legal, that Vontaze engaged his opponent from the front, and that contact was shoulder-to-chest.

Last season he missed the first three games due to a suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown .