With the bullying scandal more than a year behind him, offensive guard Richie Incognito appears to be getting another chance in the NFL.
The Buffalo News is reporting that the Buffalo Bills are expected to sign Incognito — who has not played since being suspended and released by the Miami Dolphins in 2013 — to help beef up their line.
New head coach Rex Ryan famously said he wanted to "build a bully" when asked how he wanted his team to look, and there's little doubting he's off to a roaring start on that front. Incognito was accused of rampant bullying of former Dolphins teammate Jonathan Martin over a couple of seasons, which eventually led to the Wells Report — an NFL-funded investigation — spilling the sordid details to the world.
Incognito, 31, is expected to sign soon, pending the results of a physical. He last played in the NFL in Week 9 of the 2013 season. Over his career, Incognito has started all 103 games he has played for the St. Louis Rams, Bills and Dolphins.
Incognito was claimed off waivers by the Bills for three games to finish the 2009 season after the Rams waived him when he didn't fit in with the team anymore and was too penalty-prone. He left the Bills that following offseason to sign with the Dolphins in 2010.
A year ago, the NFL lifted Incognito's suspension and he visited three teams for workouts — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos — all of whom passed on signing him over this past season.
But with Ryan and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Incognito might be a perfect fit, especially at a position of such need. They want to run the ball and they want to maul people — both fit Incognito's style perfectly. What was forgotten during his blackball period was that Incognito was a very good guard, but Ryan must hope that Incognito can be a good teammate, too. Trouble has followed him everywhere he has been, from two colleges (Oregon and Nebraska) and three NFL teams.
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