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Richie Incognito

Bills Place Richie Incognito On Reserve/Retired List

April 12th, 2018 at 11:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have placed Richie Incognito on the reserve/retired list. Things can always change, but this is a sign that Incognito will be following through on his decision to walk away from football. 

On Tuesday morning, Incognito indicated that the Bills could talk him out of retirement if they were to rework his contract. Hours later, he told a different reporter that he would be retiring for health reasons and a pay raise would not be enough to change his mind.

After three straight Pro Bowl seasons, Incognito agreed to take a pay cut for the 2018 season. Weeks later, he fired his agents on Twitter. Apparently, Incognito is not interested in returning, even if the Bills are willing to restore his original deal.

Incognito leaves the game months before his 35th birthday in July. Aside from the bullying scandal in Miami, Incognito had an excellent career as a whole. In eleven seasons with the Rams, Bills, and Dolphins, Incognito earned four Pro Bowl selections and reguarly ranked as one of the best players at his position.

AFC East Rumors: Dolphins, Bills, Incognito

April 10th, 2018 at 12:53pm CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, it was reported that the Broncos and Dolphins agreed to a deal sending running back C.J. Anderson to Miami in exchange for right tackle Ja’Wuan James trade before Miami 86’d the deal. However, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (on Twitter) hears that the Dolphins did not want to make that deal and there was no such agreement in place. In any case, James remains on board as the Dolphins’ starting right tackle and the Broncos have since acquired Jared Veldheer from the Cardinals via trade.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Bills guard Richie Incognito says that he is done playing football, but LeSean McCoy badly wants him to stay on board. On Instagram, the Buffalo running back offered up a $300K check if Incognito stays with the team and helps him reach 1,500 yards. It would be highly unorthodox – and possibly a violation of league rules – if Incognito were to take McCoy up on his offer. However, McCoy’s pitch illustrates Incognito’s importance to the team. The Bills may be compelled to offer Incognito a better deal to continue playing, though the guard’s latest comments indicate that he cannot be talked out of retirement.
  • The Bills are entitled to recover $2.15MM from Incognito if he really is done playing, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) notes. That sum represents the $1.15MM 2018 signing bonus proration from his 2016 deal and the $1MM signing bonus in his recently renegotiated contract.
  • The Jets now have a whopping 17 wide receivers on the roster. Calvin Watkins of Newsday ran down every WR in the mix with a quick evaluation of each player’s chances of making the final cut.

Richie Incognito Says He Will Follow Through On Retirement

April 10th, 2018 at 11:46am CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday morning, Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito indicated that he is considering retirement. His latest comments now suggest that it’s a done deal.

“It pisses me the [expletive] off. The contract and all that pissed me [off] and all that, but (retiring) has nothing to do with that,” Incognito said (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News), which marks a shift from his previous stance that a pay raise could entice him to play one more season.

When asked whether there was a chance he’d change his mind, Incognito said, “Absolutely not.” Just hours earlier, Incognito said that he had until Sunday to figure out his football future, so it’s still a situation worth monitoring.

Incognito, fresh off of a third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, agreed to take a pay cut for the 2018 season. Weeks later, he fired his agents via Twitter. On the surface, Incognito’s retirement threat looked to be an attempt to recoup that lost money. For his part, the veteran says that he is simply prioritizing his health over future earnings. Incognito told Carucci that his liver and kidneys are “shutting down,” so his best option might be to walk away from football.

Bills OL Richie Incognito May Retire

April 10th, 2018 at 9:40am CST by Zachary Links

This could be the end of the line for Bills guard Richie Incognito. Days after firing his agents via Twitter, Incognito has told Peter King of The MMQB (on Twitter) that he is strongly considering retiring, though he might be willing to return for one last season at the right price. Meanwhile, he sounded more definitive about the decision in his conversation with another reporter. 

“I’m done. That’s it,” Incognito tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). “It’s been a long career. Went to the doctor. My liver and kidneys are shutting down. The stress is killing me. It’s just about doing what’s right. I just want to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Incognito, who does not seem likely to reach the Hall of Fame after the Jonathan Martin controversy in Miami, is talking to the Bills about his contract and has until Sunday to change his mind about retiring, King adds (on Twitter).

Incognito may also be motivated by a desire to to turn the tables on the Bills. This offseason, the Bills asked Incognito to accept a reduced base salary, bringing him down to $3.65MM from $6.325MM. The Bills gave him a $1MM bonus in the process, but it was still a significant step back for the veteran.

That sort of contract restructuring is not uncommon in the NFL, but it’s a bit unusual for a player who is coming off of a third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. The advanced metrics also project Incognito as a top performer. Last year, Incognito placed as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked seventh amongst all guards in 2016 and second in ’15, making him the Bills’ top-rated offensive lineman of the last three years.

Incognito will turn 35 in July.

Bills OL Richie Incognito Fires Agent

April 5th, 2018 at 11:01am CST by Zachary Links

Richie Incognito has fired his agent in unusual fashion. The Bills guard, apparently, dismissed his representative via Twitter on Thursday.

“You are fired!,” Incognito wrote in a tweet at-mentioning agency Athletes First. “I wish you guys nothing but the best moving forward. Thank you for all of your help and guidance along the way. It’s time for me to go in a new direction.”

The fashion in which Incognito has chosen to dismiss his agency is notable, but so is the timing. After delivering three straight Pro Bowl seasons since landing in Buffalo, Incognito agreed to rework his contract in March to reduce his base salary from $6.325MM to $3.65MM. In the process, he picked up a $1MM bonus, though that doesn’t quite bridge the full gap. The move allowed the team to create an additional $1.675MM in cap space.

It’s possible that Incognito feels that he received poor advice from his agents this offseason. Last year, Incognito graded out as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, which doesn’t exactly scream pay cut. In any case, the 34-year-old (35 in July) will enter his contract year with new representation.

Contract Details: Jordy, Glennon, Incognito

March 21st, 2018 at 8:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at the most recent new contracts and restructures around the NFL:

New Contracts

  • Jordy Nelson, WR (Raiders): Two years, $14.2MM. $13MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
  • Mike Glennon, QB (Cardinals): Two-year, $8MM deal contains void years in 2020 and 2021. $4MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).
  • Spencer Long, C (Jets): Four years, $27.5MM. $6MM guaranteed (link via Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap).
  • Jaron Brown, WR (Seahawks): Two years, $5.5MM. $2.75MM guaranteed. $1.95MM signing bonus. $750K available annually via receptions, yards, and touchdowns incentives (Twitter link via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com).
  • Christian Jones, LB (Lions): Two years, $6.35MM. $2.8MM guaranteed. $1.75MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com).
  • Kyle Wilber, LB (Raiders): Two years, $2.75MM. $1.4MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM).
  • Billy Turner, OL (Broncos): One year, $2MM. $750K guaranteed. $500K signing bonus (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News).

Restructures

  • Richie Incognito, G (Bills): 2018 base salary reduced from $6.325MM to $3.65MM. Earned $1MM bonus. Bills created $1.675MM in cap space (Twitter link via Yates).
  • John Jerry, G (Giants): 2019 contract season eliminated. 2018 base salary reduced from $3.05MM to $1.075MM, $525K of which is guaranteed. $400K roster bonus added and paid on 3/21. Per-game roster bonuses increased from $250K to $500K (all Twitter links via Dan Duggan of NJ.com). Giants created $525K in cap space.

Bills’ Richie Incognito Reworks Contract

March 15th, 2018 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Richie Incognito has delivered three straight Pro Bowl seasons since landing in Buffalo following a controversial period. And he’s agreed to rework his contract to stay with the Bills.

The Bills and the four-time Pro Bowl guard have come to an agreement on an amended deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Incognito is entering the final season of his second Bills contract.

This will be Incognito’s age-35 season and 12th NFL campaign. He was slated to earn $6.325MM in base salary this season and represent $7.575MM of the Bills’ cap. The Bills reside on the higher end of the cap-space hierarchy at present, and this figures to bolster the situation further.

Grading out as the No. 12 guard last season, per Pro Football Focus, Incognito anchored another Bills line. Buffalo will have new starters at center and left tackle after Eric Wood‘s retirement and the Cordy Glenn trade, but they won’t have to worry about replacing Incognito just yet.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Forte, Dolphins, Ajayi

January 23rd, 2018 at 3:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have some major decisions to make on players this offseason, including troubled wide receiver Robby Anderson. Anderson’s embarrassing arrest last week has put his spot in jeopardy, but Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record expects him to get another chance given his enormous potential. Vasquez estimates that the same can’t be said for players who have underperformed, like quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.

Beyond those players, the Jets will have some opportunities to save cash by cutting some pricey veterans. Vasquez anticipates that receiver Jermaine Kearse ($5.55MM non-guaranteed), cornerback Buster Skrine ($8.5MM cap hit, $2.5MM dead money), and guard James Carpenter ($6.8MM hit, $2.1MM dead money) will stay on board. Meanwhile, tackle Ben Ijalana ($6MM hit, $1.25MM dead money) and running back Matt Forte ($4MM hit, $1MM dead money) are likely goners. Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who has disappointed in back to back seasons, will almost certainly be cut, even though the Jets will carry $9MM in dead money against $11MM in savings.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Jay Ajayi has found success with the Eagles, but that doesn’t mean the Dolphins were wrong to trade him, Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders opines. It’s easy to forget, but Ajayi was shipped out of Miami for his perceived lack of work ethic and desire to improve his pass blocking. Meanwhile, the Dolphins still have Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams, who are better blockers and better pass catchers than Ajayi. Drake ran for more than 600+ yards and had two 100-yard games over the last nine games of the season after the trade, illustrating that coach Adam Gase & Co. may have made the right call by dealing Ajayi for a fourth-round pick.
  • The NFL continues to review accusations by Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue that Bills guard Richie Incognito used racial slurs in a Jan. 7 playoff game (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). A report this week indicated that the league had wrapped up its investigation and that the offensive lineman was “not expected” to be disciplined. Incognito is under contract with Buffalo for 2018, but given his history, the lineman’s roster spot could be in jeopardy if the NFL finds credence in Ngakoue’s claims.

AFC Notes: Flacco, Incognito, Jets, Bengals

October 19th, 2016 at 9:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder and was withheld from practice Wednesday to try to improve the situation, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear whether Flacco will be ready to play against the Jets on Sunday, though head coach John Harbaugh believes he has a “legitimate chance” (via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). If Flacco can’t go, Baltimore will probably look to add a quarterback to place behind Ryan Mallett. The Ravens don’t have any QBs on their practice squad.

Here’s more from the AFC:

  • With the Bills’ Richie Incognito preparing to face his former team, the Dolphins, this week, the guard revisited the 2013 Bullygate scandal in Miami that led to a three-month suspension and left him unemployed for a year and a half.  “I’m still searching for the lesson in all of it,” Incognito told Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel. League investigator Ted Wells concluded Incognito subjected then-teammate Jonathan Martin to “a pattern of harassment” that included racial slurs. “Jonathan and I were close friends. I cared about him,” Incognito said of Martin. “If anybody was there for Jonathan it was me.” Martin left the Dolphins amid the scandal in 2013 and spent parts of the next two seasons with the 49ers and Panthers. He’s now retired. Incognito has since held his own in Buffalo, which signed him to a one-year contract in February 2015. He went to his second Pro Bowl last season and subsequently re-signed with the Bills on a three-year, $15.75MM deal with $5.4MM in guarantees. “I can sleep good at night knowing what happened and what my actions were. I’m not saying I was a saint. But I sleep well at night knowing what I did,” added Incognito, who maintains that Martin and his camp concocted a false narrative.
  • The Jets benched quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in favor of Geno Smith on Wednesday, but Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News isn’t exactly convinced the move will energize the 1-5 team. Restarting the Smith era is “destined to fail,” writes Mehta, whose reasons include the 26-year-old’s poor on-field production since entering and the lack of maturity he has shown in his four NFL seasons. Mehta expects Smith to quickly flame out in his latest audition, thereby paving the way for second-year man Bryce Petty to take the reins under center.
  • Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a back injury Oct. 3, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Thanks to both his back issue and offseason ankle surgery, the 2015 Pro Bowler hasn’t yet debuted this year. That could change Sunday against the Browns, per Dehner, who notes that Eifert was merely a limited participant Wednesday and will need to partake in a full practice before rejoining the Bengals’ lineup. The Bengals have gone a disappointing 2-4 this year without Eifert, who’s coming off an outstanding season. With 52 receptions, 615 yards and 13 touchdowns, the ex-Notre Dame star logged career highs across the board last year.
  • The Patriots worked out receiver Dres Anderson and linebacker Trevor Reilly on Wednesday, tweets Doug Kyed of NESN. Anderson went undrafted from Utah last year and spent some time with the 49ers, though he didn’t see any regular-season action. Reilly suited up 29 times and made 10 tackles with the Jets over the previous two seasons.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Contract Details: Osweiler, Ivory, Iloka

March 9th, 2016 at 9:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here are the latest updates on many recently agreed-upon or signed contracts from around the AFC:

AFC West:

  • Brandon Mebane, DT (Chargers): Three years, $13.5MM. $5.5MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
  • Jaye Howard, DT (Chiefs): Two years, $10MM. $8.26MM guaranteed. $5MM bonus. $3.27MM guaranteed at signing for injury. Pro Bowl escalator worth up to $2MM $12,500 per-game active roster bonuses worth up to $200K in 2016. $15,625 per-game active roster bonuses worth up to $250K in 2017 (Twitter links via Wilson).
  • Dwight Lowery, S (Chargers): Three years, $7.2MM. $1.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Frank Zombo, LB (Chiefs): Three years, $3.6MM. $500K signing bonus. Roster bonus of $100K in 2016 and $150K the next two seasons (Twitter link via Wilson).

AFC South:

  • Brock Osweiler, QB (Texans): Four years, $72MM. $37MM fully guaranteed in first two years – $21MM in 2016 ($12MM signing bonus, $5MM roster bonus, $4MM salary), $16MM in 2017. The remaining $35MM is non-guaranteed, including $18MM salary in 2018 and $13MM in 2019. Deal includes a $4MM roster bonus due March 2019 (all Twitter links courtesy of USA Today’s Tom Pelissero).
  • Chris Ivory, RB (Jaguars): Five years, $32MM. $10MM guaranteed. $5MM bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Jeff Allen, G (Texans): Four years, $28MM. $12MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. $3MM roster bonus due this month. Annual per-game roster bonus worth $31,250 (Twitter links via Wilson).
  • Brad Nortman, P (Jaguars): Four years, $8.8MM. $1.65MM guaranteed. $650K roster bonus in 2016 (Twitter link via Wilson).

AFC North:

AFC East:

  • Richie Incognito, G (Bills): Three years, $15.75MM. $3.45MM signing bonus. $2MM base salary in 2016 is fully guaranteed. $100K workout bonuses in each season (link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
  • Isa Abdul-Quddus, S (Dolphins): Three years, $12.75MM. $2.5MM signing bonus. $6MM in guarantees (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • James Develin, FB (Patriots): One year, $750K. $150K playing time incentives. $50K signing bonus. $25K workout bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
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