Someone is actually coming to Vontaze Burfict’s defense.

Though NFL legend Bill Romanowski allowed that Burfict’s ghastly headshot on Colts tight end Jack Doyle was worth a fine and ejection, Romanowski said it’s “bulls–t” the NFL suspended the Oakland Raiders linebacker for the rest of the season — a minimum of 12 games, pending whether Oakland makes the playoffs — and tried to explain Burfict’s on-field approach.

“You’re in the heat of battle. Your mindset is kill or be killed, because the offensive linemen, they’re still coming at you,” Romanowski, a former Raiders linebacker with a history of dirty plays himself, told TMZ Sports. “You’re in war, and you’re supposed to be able to be violent sometimes, and other times you’re supposed to be able to just take your foot off the gas like that. That is hard, and I feel for this guy.

“Do I think he should be fined? Yes. Do I think he should be kicked out of the league? No. I think it is absolutely dead wrong. This guy has handled himself like a pro, and yes, he is a violent motherf–er, and I love the way he plays the game of football. I truly believe this guy has cleaned up his act from previous years when he was with Cincinnati, and he’s playing a cleaner brand of football. But the hit from the other day, that was a rough one to watch.”

Romanowski, a two-time Pro Bowler who won four Super Bowls during his 16 NFL seasons, said because Burfict has a history of bad hits from his time with the Bengals, Sunday’s hit was worth perhaps a one-game suspension. Yet he defended Burfict’s character.

“To me, he plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said Romanowski, who spent time with Burfict during Raiders camp this preseason. “Did he take it too far? Yeah, he took it too far, and he’s taken it too far quite a few times. My dealings with him, nothing but a good guy, a guy who’s probably the smartest football mind in the room.”

Burfict will reportedly appeal his suspension. The 29-year-old was in London with the Raiders ahead of their game this Sunday against the Bears, but according to NFL Network Burfict was returning to the US.