Incognito's Retirement? [update: Now Released]

[NoSaint]

15 minutes ago, Augie said:

I doubt this sketchy stuff helps his broadcasting options. Too bad, as I like to root for people to succeed, and he showed some promise. Time will tell...

 

I think he’s a real long shot to transition from “too extreme for nfl locker rooms” to “corporate America in an already on guard environment”

 

He’s ultra high risk given his resume, and would have to be a huge upgrade over the next best guy. The Jacksonville story followed by this offseason really hurt the outside chance of him being able to argue that he is 100% trustworthy 

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

 

I think he’s a real long shot to transition from “too extreme for nfl locker rooms” to “corporate America in an already on guard environment”

 

He’s ultra high risk given his resume, and would have to be a huge upgrade over the next best guy. The Jacksonville story followed by this offseason really hurt the outside chance of him being able to argue that he is 100% trustworthy 

 

Today I question his options. Just a few minths ago I was impressed with him on Cowherd and some other stuff. Looking like the Richie of old, to some degree. 

[NoSaint]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

Today I question his options. Just a few minths ago I was impressed with him on Cowherd and some other stuff. Looking like the Richie of old, to some degree. 

 

He can definitely be a well spoken guy and has a unique perspective... but I think there’s a wide gap between lets have him on set for an interview and let’s sign him to a contract to represent a major network day in and day out.

 

maybe one of the edgier cable or radio programs give him a chance to build his resume and get the ratings boost associated with possible shock value. I can’t see him going major network anytime soon though. He keeps digging his hole deeper. 

[Peter]

38 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

Well, there are different ways to win, and different ways to lose.  If RI's plan to win was to renegotiate his contract, subsequently appear unbalanced, imply continued time in the NFL would be significantly detrimental to his health, then flip it around like he was thrilled to be back all while retiring then unretiring, honestly the only sensible plan for Beane is to release him.  His tweet storm was disruptive, odd, bipolar and most certainly disruptive to the enterprise. If it was all a game to bankroll an extra mill, well, you know the value he places on that element of his reputation. How can you trust him in that case?   I think the play to release the guy shows strength as a leader, because yeah, RI could have a great season. He could also have significant mental health issues and clearly does not want to play for the team or contract he agreed to 20 minutes before he lost his marbles. 

 

Beane was not outsmarted in any respect, no matter how you slice it.

 

btw...I hate what happened, but have no other beef with RI. He was great while he was here, I enjoyed watching him, but he's gone now and the ugliness is on him. 

 

After what happened, Richie wanted to get his release.  Not only did he get his release, he reportedly gets to keep $1.15 million whether he plays another down in the NFL or not.  This was money that he would have had to return. 

 

It must be nice to get $1.15 million whether you continue to work or not.

 

Because of the way that this was handled, the Bills reportedly do not get to recoup that money and, to add insult to injury, that money is now additional dead money against our cap.

 

Dead Money - Spotrac

 

In the end, we have lost another starting linemen (a pro bowler at that) and, for our trouble, we have another $1.15 in dead money against the cap.

 

To me, there had to be a way to manage this better (both the Bills and Incognito).  It would have been nice to keep a pro bowl lineman rather than create an addition hole.  It would have been nice to give Shady and whoever starts at QB (especially if it is an untested rookie QB) the best possible protection.

[atlbillsfan1975]

10 hours ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/3439819

 

Hes been a bad guy much more than he’s been a good guy.  

That’s a five year old article and I think that time has proven Jonathan Martin was/is not a stable person. I’m not saying Richie is perfect but I don’t believe everything Martin claimed. 

[Peter]

As an aside, according to Spotrac, we have $17.7 million in cap space (after RI's release).  If that is the case, there did not seem to be a pressing need to make him agree to a pay cut in the first instance.  Given the cap space, there certainly was the cap space to come up with a compromise . . . unless the Bills are planning on spending that money.

 

We shall see.

 

I just hope that Shady has room to be Shady and that our starting QB (whoever that may be) has time to throw the ball. Maybe the guys on the team can fill the void, but it is tough to lose four guys who have started on the line over the past few years in one off season. 

1 minute ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

That’s a five year old article and I think that time has proven Jonathan Martin was/is not a stable person. I’m not saying Richie is perfect but I don’t believe everything Martin claimed. 

 

The interesting thing about what happened with the Dolphins is that most of the players on that team sided with Incognito.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

1 minute ago, Peter said:

 

After what happened, Richie wanted to get his release.  Not only did he get his release, he reportedly gets to keep $1.15 million whether he plays another down in the NFL or not.  This was money that he would have had to return. 

 

It must be nice to get $1.15 million whether you continue to work or not.

 

Because of the way that this was handled, the Bills reportedly do not get to recoup that money and, to add insult to injury, that money is now additional dead money against our cap.

 

Dead Money - Spotrac

 

In the end, we have lost another starting linemen (a pro bowler at that) and, for our trouble, we have another $1.15 in dead money against the cap.

 

To me, there had to be a way to manage this better (both the Bills and Incognito).  It would have been nice to keep a pro bowl lineman rather than create an addition hole.  It would have been nice to give Shady and whoever starts at QB (especially if it is an untested rookie QB) the best possible protection.

all of which makes sense except:

1. They negotiated a deal that was agreed to, as happens countless times in the NFL every year;

2. The player agreed to the deal, then apparently went on a weeklong bender of shrooms and Mezcal worms, which doesn't happen all that much in the NFL every year;

3. And the guys responsible for the entire team had to decide from the perspective of the team:

---Try and get Crazy RI back by enforcing  the deal Agreeable RI just agreed to;

--Try and get Crazy RI back by renegotiating the deal Agreeable RI agreed to;

--Try and keep Crazy RI to get something for him from another team who might be interested in Crazy RI hoping he is really Agreeable RI;

--Let Crazy RI go and let him seek something that works for crazy RI and no longer impacts the team;

 

----All the while, they have no way of knowing if Crazy RI is really just Agreeable RI acting like Crazy RI or is truly Crazy RI.

 

in this case, I'm sorry, but the common denominator is crazy.  

But I do agree, if none of the crazy happened I'd love it if the guy was back. 

 

 

[Sky Diver]

25 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

all of which makes sense except:

1. They negotiated a deal that was agreed to, as happens countless times in the NFL every year;

2. The player agreed to the deal, then apparently went on a weeklong bender of shrooms and Mezcal worms, which doesn't happen all that much in the NFL every year;

3. And the guys responsible for the entire team had to decide from the perspective of the team:

---Try and get Crazy RI back by enforcing  the deal Agreeable RI just agreed to;

--Try and get Crazy RI back by renegotiating the deal Agreeable RI agreed to;

--Try and keep Crazy RI to get something for him from another team who might be interested in Crazy RI hoping he is really Agreeable RI;

--Let Crazy RI go and let him seek something that works for crazy RI and no longer impacts the team;

 

----All the while, they have no way of knowing if Crazy RI is really just Agreeable RI acting like Crazy RI or is truly Crazy RI.

 

in this case, I'm sorry, but the common denominator is crazy.  

But I do agree, if none of the crazy happened I'd love it if the guy was back. 

 

 

 

Having his salary cut created ill will and resentment that he couldn’t move past. Who likes having their compensation cut when they are a strong performer? The Bills should have kept his salary the same rather  than creating a hole. ~$1.5M wouldn’t have killed them.

Edited May 23, 2018 by Sky Diver

[Lfod]

20 minutes ago, Sky Diver said:

 

Having his salary cut created ill will and resentment that he couldn’t move past. Who likes having their compensation cut when they are a strong performer? The Bills should have kept his salary the same rather  than creating a hole. ~$1.5M wouldn’t have killed them.

I don't think anyone has a problem if the guy valued himself at a higher rate than what he was offered. That's when Incognito shouldn't have signed the contract. Thats the point I lose a little respect.

 

I have no problem if you value him at more then what the Bills offered I can respect that. If he negotiated stronger he might of gotten the contract he wanted. The Bills may not have payed him more, they may have. We won't ever know now. If some one signs a contract with you then backs out I doubt you pull your wallet out to pay more money out of desperation. Think about the message that sends. You backed out of one agreement but let me pay you more so you honor the next agreement. 

 

Incognito got his way. He got out of the contract and he got to keep $$$. Good for him. I don't care how good the guy is, if you can't honor your commitment I wouldn't trust you. This wasn't his first rodeo, he's been in the NFL long enough. If he didn't choose the right people to give him advice that's his problem. If he trusted the wrong people to care for his financial choices that's his problem. 

 

It doesn't matter now because the damage is done and the Bills cut thier losses. Incognito is gone, time to let go man. It will be ok. Incognito is in the wrong not the Bills. They offered what they valued him at and he accepted. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Lfod

[The Red King]

I'm sorry, he signed the contract.  Welcome to the real world.  You sign a contract, you honor it.  And don't give me any BS about him giving his agent the power to sign a contract.  If that's what happened it's still on him because he gave his agent that power.  We're talking NFL money, there is no way I allow my agent to sign anything.  You work out a deal, shoot me the numbers, and let me make the final decision.  Whether what the Bills offered was fair or not is completely irrelevant.  Richie agreed to it and should have honored it.

[Dadonkadonk]

1 hour ago, The Red King said:

I'm sorry, he signed the contract.  Welcome to the real world.  You sign a contract, you honor it.  And don't give me any BS about him giving his agent the power to sign a contract.  If that's what happened it's still on him because he gave his agent that power.  We're talking NFL money, there is no way I allow my agent to sign anything.  You work out a deal, shoot me the numbers, and let me make the final decision.  Whether what the Bills offered was fair or not is completely irrelevant.  Richie agreed to it and should have honored it.

You realize the team signs the contract too and they can cut him at any time?  The NFL salary structure is at least 75% based on signing bonuses. This is not the NBA or MLB.  

The player has every right to hold out and demand what the market will pay.  The team has no obligation to renegotiate of course.  This has nothing to do with honor. It is economics.

[Lfod]

46 minutes ago, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize the team signs the contract too and they can cut him at any time?  The NFL salary structure is at least 75% based on signing bonuses. This is not the NBA or MLB.  

The player has every right to hold out and demand what the market will pay.  The team has no obligation to renegotiate of course.  This has nothing to do with honor. It is economics.

Who doesn't want to get paid more? I guess every player should take notice. Let's just wait and see the outcome for cogs before we tout it as a genius idea. I don't know why more players don't conduct business like this. I'm surprised it isn't standard practice. My guess is it was a bad move and it doesn't end well. 

 

Buffalo released him yet they are the bad guy to some. They could of made things harder for him but didn't.

Edited May 23, 2018 by Lfod

[Ol Dirty B]

I wonder how Incognito would have been treated if he was black. I'm not a fan of that white privilege ****, but why did they release him from the retired designation?

 

He didn't deserve it, and they didn't do it with Anquan who they signed under false pretenses. 

 

I know most of you hate it, but this regime's talk of character, faith, and how they treat guys is messy. I hate his success, but when do you hear belichick ever wander outside of production when it comes to players? Getting into all of that other **** gets messy, and I don't like that they do it. 

1 hour ago, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize the team signs the contract too and they can cut him at any time?  The NFL salary structure is at least 75% based on signing bonuses. This is not the NBA or MLB.  

The player has every right to hold out and demand what the market will pay.  The team has no obligation to renegotiate of course.  This has nothing to do with honor. It is economics.

 Except all of this wasn't invented yesterday. He knew this when signed the restructured contract.

 

Who willingly takes pay cut then holds out? 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Ol Dirty B

[Peter]

5 hours ago, The Red King said:

I'm sorry, he signed the contract.  Welcome to the real world.  You sign a contract, you honor it.  And don't give me any BS about him giving his agent the power to sign a contract.  If that's what happened it's still on him because he gave his agent that power.  We're talking NFL money, there is no way I allow my agent to sign anything.  You work out a deal, shoot me the numbers, and let me make the final decision.  Whether what the Bills offered was fair or not is completely irrelevant.  Richie agreed to it and should have honored it.

 

That goes both ways.

[Thurman#1]

7 hours ago, Peter said:

As an aside, according to Spotrac, we have $17.7 million in cap space (after RI's release).  If that is the case, there did not seem to be a pressing need to make him agree to a pay cut in the first instance.  Given the cap space, there certainly was the cap space to come up with a compromise . . . unless the Bills are planning on spending that money.

 

We shall see.

 

I just hope that Shady has room to be Shady and that our starting QB (whoever that may be) has time to throw the ball. Maybe the guys on the team can fill the void, but it is tough to lose four guys who have started on the line over the past few years in one off season. 

 

 

 

 

We're quite tight against the cap right now. It'll be down to about $10 - $12 mill after they sign all of the rookies (The draft pool rookie cap is slightly above $9 miil)

 

And both the Bills have historically kept $6 -$9 mill available for in-season injury replacements and Beane has said he will do the same thing.

 

There's not much available.

 

And yeah, the OL will be a concern, but an interesting one.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

8 hours ago, Limeaid said:

It appears it was signed by his agent and what he should have been rational and told the Bills "I was told by my agent that he signed agreement to salary cut and I did not agree to this.  Can we talk to NFLPA and get contract mod nullified."   Then Richie and Bills could have sat down and made agreement he and Bills could agree on or if Bills insisted on salary cut he could have refused and let them determine if money was enough reason to cut him.

 

The tweets acting like a twit gave Bills every valid reason not to be in a reasonable mood.

 

It appears agent signed for him for he gave agent right.  That was the mistake but understand why some players may want to do this.

 

I agree about the tweets acting like a twit.

 

I'm curious about the source that the contract was signed by RI's agent and not by RI.  That would seem very unusual to me, certainly not without communicating the terms to RI and getting a verbal OK.  I can not imagine a reputable agent (and Athletes First is very reputable) that wished to stay in business, behaving this way.

 

Can you help me out with a source on this "signed by agent and not RI" please?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 hours ago, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize the team signs the contract too and they can cut him at any time?  The NFL salary structure is at least 75% based on signing bonuses. This is not the NBA or MLB.  

The player has every right to hold out and demand what the market will pay.  The team has no obligation to renegotiate of course.  This has nothing to do with honor. It is economics.

 

I'm still SMH about the pretzel logic here.  Incognito had a contract.  He had no need to "hold out".  The Bills approach him and say "we'd like to ask you to renegotiate, or we may have to cut you".  RI can say "No".  "No" is a complete sentence.  Then the Bills cut him (if they want to) and he gets to see what the market will pay for a 34 year old guard who brings the nasty on Sunday and may not be the guy you want by your locker the rest of the week.

 

Then we hear all kinds of stuff that just doesn't make sense.  Somehow Athletes First which represents 68+ NFL players including stars like Aaron Rodgers, is supposed to have signed the contract on RI's behalf without RI knowing and agreeing to the terms.  Nuts.

[oldmanfan]

5 hours ago, Dadonkadonk said:

You realize the team signs the contract too and they can cut him at any time?  The NFL salary structure is at least 75% based on signing bonuses. This is not the NBA or MLB.  

The player has every right to hold out and demand what the market will pay.  The team has no obligation to renegotiate of course.  This has nothing to do with honor. It is economics.

They negotiated that with the CBA.  It's on the players that this situation exists.  He signed a contract, he should live up to it.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

7 hours ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

That’s a five year old article and I think that time has proven Jonathan Martin was/is not a stable person. I’m not saying Richie is perfect but I don’t believe everything Martin claimed. 

 

I agree.  But, on the other hand, if I'm a team looking to shell out a contract for a 34 yr old guard, I look at his baggage.  And that Miami thing is part of his baggage, along with his previous history with the Rams.  He rehabilitated himself as a player in Miami and in Buffalo, but if I'm a GM I look at his very public behavior towards Buffalo, his previous history of drug and alcohol abuse and erratic behavior with the Rams and in Miami, and say "hmmmm"

[JoeF]

I heard the Hamilton Tiger-Cats need a G to block for their new QB....

Edited May 23, 2018 by JoeF