The Buffalo Bills are convinced Richie Incognito, the player at the heart of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal, has changed his ways and will be an asset to the team.
Rumours had circulated over the weekend that Incognito would join the Bills, and on Monday the team confirmed he had signed a contract, which ESPN reports is for one year and worth $2.25m.
The guard has been out of the NFL for a year after an investigation found that he and two team-mates – John Jerry and Mike Pouncey – victimised fellow offensive lineman Jonathan Martin, using racial insults and explicit sexual taunts about his family. Incognito was suspended for eight games while Martin is said to have considered taking his own life twice during the campaign of harassment. Martin now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
“I personally met with Richie, along with Doug Whaley, Rex Ryan and [my wife] Kim regarding an opportunity to earn a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster,” Pegula said in a statement. “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 team-mate. Following discussion with the rest of the coaching staff, we as an organization will provide him with the opportunity to do so.”
The Bills will be cautious about how they deal with Martin. The Dolphins came under scrutiny over the bullying scandal, with allegations that someone on the team had told Incognito to “toughen up” Martin. In a perhaps unfortunate use of words last month, new head coach Rex Ryan said the Bills would “build a bully” of a team that will scare opponents. In pure playing terms, Incognito is a good fit for the Bills, whose offensive line struggled last season.
The Martin incident is not the only blot on Incognito’s reputation. He was once voted the NFL’s dirtiest player by fellow members of the league while he was disciplined by the Dolphins in 2012 at a team golf event after a police report said he touched a female volunteer inappropriately before pouring a bottle of water over her face.
