Stressed Incognito ‘done’ playing game
Combative guard recently had Bills deal restructured.
Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito said he’s “done” in a text to The Associated Press amid reports he is considering retirement after 11 NFL seasons.
Incognito, who was suspended for half a season in 2013 for bullying a Dolphins teammate, followed up the text Tuesday with a laughing-face emoji and did not respond to further questions seeking clarification.
The text came shortly after SportsIllustrated. com reported Incognito was “strongly considering retiring,” but would consider returning for one more season at the right price.
The Buffalo News quoted Incognito as saying, “I’m done. That’s it.” Incognito added he is experiencing liver and kidney problems and is being affected by stress.
“I went to a doctor’s appointment the other day and they said, ‘Listen, the stress is killing you, what are you doing?’” Incognito told the News. “And I said, ‘Listen, I’m just doing what I love and that’s playing football.’ So that’s why I’m done.”
The Bills did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The development comes a week after Incognito fired his agent, David Dunn, in a post on Twitter. That decision came after Incognito accepted a pay cut by restructuring the final year of his contract.
Incognito is also the subject of an NFL investigation after Jacksonville defensive end Yannick Ngakoue accused the Bills player of making racist slurs during the Jaguars’ 10-3 win over Buffalo in an AFC wild-card playoff game in January.
The NFL has not announced whether it has completed its investigation. Ngakoue said he and Incognito cleared the air after they were AFC teammates at the Pro Bowl in January.
Incognito completed his third season with the Bills, who provided him a second chance at continuing his career. He signed with Buffalo in February 2015 after missing 18 months in the aftermath of the Miami Dolphins’ bullying scandal.
Incognito was suspended for the final eight games of the 2013 season, when the Dolphins were thrust into the national spotlight after offensive lineman Jonathan Martin abruptly quit the team amid accusations he was being bullied. An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen persistently harassed Martin.
In February, Martin was detained and questioned by Los Angeles police after posting a threatening note on his Instagram account. Martin’s post showed a shotgun and specifically mentioned Incognito, former teammate Mike Pouncey as well as a private Los Angeles prep school Martin once attended. Martin wrote suicide and revenge were the only options for a victim of bullying.
Raiders: Began their offseason program without star defensive end Khalil Mack. Mack was not present for the start of the voluntary session Monday when the Raiders met for the first time under coach Jon Gruden.
At present, Mack is scheduled for one-year salary at $13.846 million under a fifthyear option invoked a year ago by the Raiders. Both sides say they hope to get a longterm extension done.
Jaguars: Authorities say former Jacksonville safety and assistant coach Marlon McCree was arrested over the weekend following a vehicle chase with his ex-wife and crashing his truck into her SUV.
Monday’s Games Tuesday’s Games
Hornets 119, (at) Pacers 93: Frank Kaminsky matched his career high with 24 points for Charlotte. Indiana , which rested three starters, had four players in double figures.
76ers 121, (at) Hawks 113: The Sixers closed in on the third seed in the Eastern Conference with their franchiserecord15th consecutive victory. JJ Redick led Philadelphia with 28 points, hitting six of nine 3-pointers, and Ersan Ilyasova added 26.
(At) Wizards 113, Celtics 101: John Wall scored 29 points and had 11 assists in what was likely a preview of a first-round playoff matchup.
Suns at Mavericks: Late
Warriors at Jazz: Late
Rockets at Lakers: Late
NBA notes
Bucks: All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s sore right ankle could keep him out of tonight’s game against the 76ers as his team continues to jockey for playoff seeding. He averages 27.1 points per game and is the NBA’s fourthleading scorer but missed the last two games, wins over the Knicks and Magic. The Bucks earn the No. 6 seed with a win.
Cavaliers: Looking to add height to an undersized frontcourt, the club plans to sign 13-year veteran Kendrick Perkins (6-foot-10, 269 pounds) before the playoffs begin. Perkins, 33, was released by the Cavs in the preseason and played 27 games with the Canton Charge of the G League.
Nuggets: If they can extend a six-game winning streak to seven tonight at Minnesota, they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2013. A Timberwolves victory puts them in, and they’re suffering through the NBA’s longest playoff drought, last reaching the postseason in 2003-04.
Spurs: Having clinched a 21st consecutive playoff berth, the Spurs own the longest postseason streak in the four major professional sports. The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins are second with 12 and the NFL’s New England Patriots are third with nine, followed by MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers at five.