The Vontaze Burfict roller coaster reached its targeted destination Friday. In what may be the wildest ride in the recent history to make a 53-man roster as a rookie, the linebacker maligned every step of his way out of Arizona State showed enough to outlast third-year pro Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas). 

Make no mistake, the Bengals liked Muckelroy. He played well as a rookie in 2010 before suffering an Achilles injury the first practice of 2011. He bounced back this preseason leading all linebackers in tackles (19) and played well as the listed backup to starter Rey Maualuga. 

The biggest lesson learned in the slicing of 22 players is, sure, the team liked Muckelroy -- but they love Burfict. 

Hard to believe anyone would write that statement four months ago. Burfict projected to a first-round talent following his junior year at Arizona State, but his final year became a disaster. He racked up egregious personal fouls in quantity and as his season derailed he began blaming coaches on the way down. When it came time for redemption at the Combine he showed up out of shape and posted embarrassing numbers. Pro Day showed more of the same. Come draft weekend, nobody thought this former first-round talent was worth even a seventh-round pick. Too much risk. 

Marvin Lewis offered an olive branch in what he dubbed as a no-lose situation, signing him as an undrafted free agent. This preseason, it's clear the Bengals didn't lose. Burfict had a sack, interception, moved sideline-to-sideline with rare instincts to match his faster, slimmer frame and quickly picked up special teams.

Maualuga, meanwhile, missed all but three snaps of the preseason with a knee sprain. He also missed three games last season with an ankle injury. Point being, picking his backup must be done carefully. 

Burfict impressed, but a player with a history of discipline and motivation problems being kept in place of a player like Muckelroy who played well and had been the consummate pro means the Bengals officially buy this reclamation being more than a project. They are no longer in a no-lose situation. They lost something Friday. If Burfict goes bad, the second-guessing will be deserved. 

Did the Bengals just bring back 2005 second-round pick LB Odell Thurman, who showed all the potential his rookie season only to become a nightmare off the field, eventually being suspended for a year? Or will Burfict become one of the great draft-day pickups in Bengals history? 

We'll see, but as was learned Friday, Lewis saw enough to know it's a risk they're willing to take. 

Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLCIN.