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ALAMEDA — The Raiders have signed free-agent guard Richie Incognito to a one-year contract, confirming an earlier Bay Area News Group report.
Incognito visited the Raiders on May 6 and the team came away impressed, but they waited a couple weeks to hear from the NFL about a possible suspension that would stem from Incognito’s August arrest at an Arizona funeral home. It’s unclear if Incognito will be suspended, but regardless the Raiders were evidently comfortable with what the league told them regarding potential discipline.
The Raiders made it official Tuesday morning before their second week of organized team activities.
“We’ve talked to the NFL, we’ve stayed in touch with them,” general manager Mike Mayock said. “There’s a chance there could be league discipline. Don’t know what it will be. It’s a one-year, minimum prove it deal and we feel that (he has incentive) to stay straight and we don’t know what the NFL will do.”
Mayock said the Raiders have researched Incognito extensively and are comfortable with bringing him in to compete for a starting spot.
“We’ve done a lot of homework on him. I’ve known some of the line coaches he’s played for, some of his stops,” Mayock said. I’ve called several people around the league. I feel comfortable that he’s going to compete on the field and I feel comfortable he’s going to compete off the field, and we’re going to provide the infrastructure for him. At the end of the day it’s a two-way street, we’ve got to help him help himself.”
Incognito, 35, has made four career Pro Bowls. He got in some practice time Tuesday, getting some work with the first team and was not made available for comment. From 2015-17, Incognito played well for the Buffalo Bills, and in 2017 helped them to their first postseason appearance in 18 years. He didn’t play last season.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden said last Tuesday the only undetermined starting spot on the offensive line is at left guard. Incognito figures to be the favorite to start there, but Denzelle Good will compete for the job as well, among several others. Derek Carr took 51 sacks last season, tied for the third-most among quarterbacks and 15 more than he’d taken in any of his first four seasons.
Incognito has been in his fair share of headlines over the years, some far worse than others, and in August he was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and criminal threats after an incident at an Arizona funeral home before his father’s funeral. According to Scottsdale, Arizona online court records, Incognito pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct in April, while charges of making threats and damaging property were dismissed.
Incognito didn’t play in the NFL last season, and last played for the Bills in 2017, starting all 16 regular season games and one playoff game while making his fourth Pro Bowl.
The Raiders used “character” as a theme when discussing their 2019 draft class and first-round picks Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Abram in particular. Mayock gave his rationale on how that philosophy fits in with signing Incognito.
“It’s a fair question. I’ve talked a lot about foundation,” Mayock said. “Jon and I both have. I think we reinforced that with our draft. I think at the end of the day, you can’t have all Boy Scouts. What you have to do is your homework on each individual case . . . We’ve talked to Richie. We’ve told him what we expect both on and off the field and we expect him to adhere to that.”
Incognito announced his plan to retire after the Bills’ season ended in the 2017 AFC Wild Card round, telling The Buffalo News that stress, as well as liver and kidney issues, led to his decision. The team placed Incognito on the reserved/retired list, but on April 13 he announced his intention to show up at the start of Buffalo’s organized team activities on April 16. He never showed, and on May 21 he became a free agent after the Bills released him from the reserved/retired list.
Incognito has incited controversy in the past, whether it be his role in a bullying scandal while with the Dolphins, an incident at a Florida gym that led him to be place on an “involuntary psychiatric hold” in late May 2018 or his profane tweet in August 2018 directed at Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.
The Raiders are hoping that extra baggage is permanently in the rearview, as they now have a locker room that Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict and Incognito will all share in 2019.
Brown, for one, welcomed Incognito aboard.
“Incognito is a great guy. Super funny with a big personality,” Brown said. “An aggressive guy who loves the game of football. I think he’s extremely hungry and excited to be back out here.”
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who held the same position in 2005 and 2006 with the St. Louis Rams when Incognito was there in his second and third seasons, likes what he sees 13 years later.
“He’s just a really tough player,” Olson said. “Brings a tough demeanor to the room and the offensive side of the ball and he’s really talented as well. We brought him in a week ago for a workout, he impressed us and he’s young for his age. We’re excited about him.”Guard Chaz Green was released to make room for Incognito on the roster.
NFL Network first reported the signing and Incognito’s agent, Ken Sarnoff, later confirmed the news via Twitter.
