NFL: COACH NOT SUBJECT TO POLICY
Bills’ Incognito becomes free agent
Detroit was thorough in its hiring of Matt Patricia, NFL says, and the coach’s past does not fall under the personal conduct policy.
DETROIT — The NFL has determined sexual assault allegations against Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia from 1996 are not subject to its personal conduct policy.
“The allegations occurred well before his affiliation with the NFL,” the league said Monday after completing its review of the Lions’ interviewing process.
Patricia has said he was falsely accused of allegations that resurfaced in a Detroit News report. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed. He and a friend were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault. They were accused of assaulting a woman on South Padre Island.
“I was innocent then,” Patricia said earlier this month, a day after the newspaper report. “And, I am innocent now.”
The Lions have said a preemployment background check did not reveal the incident and they are standing by Patricia.
The NFL review determined the Lions were appropriate and thorough during the interview process. The league said Patricia did not mislead anyone with the Lions and adds he was under no league or other requirement to raise the issue.
“We determined that the Lions handled the interview process in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner and fully and appropriately complied with all applicable employment laws,” the league said. “As we learned from both Mr. Patricia and the Lions, the matter was not part of his employment interview process for job opportunities outside of or within the NFL.”
The Lions hired Patricia in February after firing Jim Caldwell. The former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offensive lineman was hired by the Patriots in 2004. Patricia became one of Bill Belichick’s top assistants, serving as defensive coordinator from 2012 through last season.
“For 14 years in our organization, Matt conducted himself with great integrity and is known to be an outstanding coach, person and family man,” Belichick said earlier this month. “We have always been confident in Matt’s character and recommended him highly to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions.”
INCOGNITO: Richie Incognito’s playing days might not be over after all.
The veteran guard is free to resume his career after the Buffalo Bills released him from their reserve/retired list on Monday.
The move represents the latest twist in what’s become an unsettling offseason for Incognito. He now becomes a free agent some six weeks after abruptly announcing he was retiring on his Twitter account.
Incognito did not reply to a voicemail and text message left with him by The Associated Press.
He has also not posted any messages on Twitter since April 15, three days after the Bills placed him on the reserve/ retired list.
The Bills did not provide a reason for the decision to release Incognito in announcing the move in a one-sentence statement.
General manager Brandon Beane last month sidestepped questions regarding Incognito by saying he’s focusing on players on the roster. Beane did say Incognito would have to seek the NFL’s permission to be reinstated should he desire to come out of retirement.
Incognito cited health concerns as one of the reasons he was retiring. He was also unhappy with taking a pay cut in restructuring the final year of his contract with Buffalo this offseason.
The 34-year-old Incognito has 11 seasons of NFL experience, including the past three with Buffalo. He earned three of his four Pro Bowl selections in Buffalo, and was part of a line that helped the Bills lead the NFL in yards rushing in both 2015 and ’16.
DONALD: Aaron Donald is skipping another set of offseason workouts while his contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Rams drag on into their second year.
The All-Pro defensive tackle’s teammates would like to see this standoff resolved before it has any chance to impact their promising season.
“Hey man, pay the man,” cornerback Marcus Peters said. “You win the MVP? Come on now.”
The NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year was back home in Pittsburgh while the Rams began voluntary organized team activities at their training complex Monday. He also skipped the start of their offseason program in April.
He is missing the first steps in the assembly of a potentially impressive defense. Peters joined the Rams in the offseason along with fellow star cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh — but they haven’t yet teamed up with Donald, who turns 27 on Wednesday.
“Aaron is a vet, man,” Talib said. “He’s going to take care of his own business. What’s his business is his business.”
Donald is due to make $6.89 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Rams theoretically could keep him for three additional years under a franchise tag. But he has been one of the NFL’s top defensive linemen since his career began in 2014, and the Rams’ front office has claimed it is eager to sign Donald to a long-term contract.
“It’s kind of where it’s been,” coach Sean McVay said of the Rams’ negotiation with Donald. “We’re in constant dialogue and communication with his representation. It is something that we want to get resolved.”