Ngakoue clears air with Incognito
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue says he and Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito have cleared the air after Ngakoue accused Incognito of using “weak racist slurs” during a playoff game earlier this month.
Ngakoue says the Pro Bowl teammates talked it out yesterday and are good to go.
Ngakoue declined to get into specifics about their conversation at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., preferring to move on. Incognito rushed off the field following the AFC squad’s practice and declined interview requests.
Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson provided more insight, saying he saw Ngakoue and Incognito talking before practice.
Jackson says “that was really cool, you know. We have a huge respect for each other, and sometimes the heat of the moment can get to you and you can say things you might not really mean or do things you might not really mean and be apologetic for it. I think it shows the true character of a man to come and apologize . . . to clear the air.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the exchange “remains under review.
• Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell says he and the team are making progress on a contract extension. The team has presented an initial offer, and Bell says “we are a lot closer than we were last year.”
Bell spoke at the Pro Bowl. He says he doesn’t believe talks will drag on.
The 25-year-old back turned down a long-term contract in 2017, skipped training camp and then signed a one-year, $12 million franchise tender.
• Joe Philbin, a Green Bay Packers assistant from 2003 until 2012, was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator, a job he held for his final five seasons before being named the Dolphins’ head coach in January 2012. On defense, the Packers tabbed Mike Pettine, the ex-Browns coach.
• The New York Jets fired offensive line coach Steve Marshall after three seasons.
• The Atlanta Falcons expect the retractable roof on Mercedes-Benz Stadium to be “fully operational” for the 2018 season and next year’s Super Bowl.
Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay said he expects the team to have more open-air home games in 2018.
Problems kept the roof closed on the $1.5 billion stadium for most of the 2017 season.