Archives for February 10, 2015

'Incognito has not played since his suspension on Nov. 3, 2013.'

'“I attribute everything positive – it’s always the players,” said special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. “I’m a big believer when good things happen, it’s players making plays, and when bad things happen, it’s the coaching aspect of it, not doing a good enough job getting the players ready.”'

'"You talk about the bully word," Schlereth said. "It doesn't bother me because it's football vernacular. There are things said in the locker room that can't be said anywhere else in America, and there are things that football players and football coaches say that, when you're inside that locker room, you don't think of it from the standpoint of what the public thinks oftentimes.'

'Incognito's checkered past extends far beyond the Dolphins' bullying scandal. The 2012 Pro Bowler has a long history of aggressive and violent behavior dating back to college. While he will be 32 when the season begins, Incognito likely represents an upgrade for the Bills' struggling offensive line.'

'True to his word, Ryan has signed the Captain Bligh of the sneer set, announcing Monday it has reached agreement with controversial guard Richie Incognito.'

'The notion that all “bad” people should be barred from modern-day sports is a perverted sub-species of the one that kept the Jackie Robinsons out of the games 60 years ago. It may have very different motivations, but it ends up in the same place – a subjective barrier to entry. Who defines that code? Where do they derive their authority from?'

'"We're not going to be pushed around," the former Jets coach said at the Jan. 15 press conference. "In fact, we're going to be the bullies … we are going to build a bully."'

'Incognito had established a reputation for having a mean streak even before the bullying scandal. Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus once called Incognito "the dirtiest player in the NFL," following a game against the Dolphins.'

'Dareus' lawer, Michael Caffery, turned down an offer to plead guilty to reckless driving early on, but in December, Caffery said he was still talking with the Erie County District Attorney's office about resolving the case without a trial.''

'Incognito, who played in three games with Buffalo towards the end of the 2009 season after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Rams, does have a reputation for being a durable player in addition to a dirty one. Not counting his 2013 suspension, he missed just one game over four seasons with the Dolphins.'

'"Following discussion with the rest of the coaching staff, we as an organization will provide him with the opportunity to do so."'

'"I personally met with Richie, along with Doug Whaley, Rex Ryan and Kim regarding an opportunity to earn a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster. Obviously, we all discussed Richie's past experience in the NCAA and NFL. We are convinced that Richie is prepared to move forward and has and will continue to take the necessary steps to improve himself as a person and a teammate. Following discussion with the rest of the coaching staff, we as an organization will provide him with the opportunity to do so."'

'Despite Incognito’s reputation as a player who racks up penalties, that has not been the case in the latter half of his career. According to STATS Inc., in his first four NFL seasons when he appeared in at least 12 games, Incognito averaged 10 penalties a season. In the last three seasons in which he has played in at least 12 games he’s averaged 4.66 penalties per season. In his eight-game season in 2013 Incognito was called for just one penalty.'