‘You can’t have all Boy Scouts’: Richie Incognito is a Raider.
Incognito receives 1-year ‘prove-it’ deal from Oakland
The Raiders signed freeagent lineman Richie Incognito to a one-year contract Tuesday to compete for their left-guard spot.
Incognito, 35, last played in the NFL in 2017 with the Bills. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has a history of off-the-field issues, including an arrest in August following an incident at an Arizona funeral home.
On Tuesday, Incognito worked with the Raiders’ starting offensive line as they began their second week of organized team activities. As practice began, general manager Mike Mayock addressed the signing with reporters.
“I think whenever he’s been focused on activities solely on the field, he’s been fine,” Mayock said of Incognito. “We’ve done a one-year, ‘proveit’ deal with him, and ‘prove-it’
“We’ve one-year, done ‘prove-it’ a deal with him, and ‘prove-it’ means both on and off the field. There are some expectations he’s got to meet in both areas.” Mike Mayock, Raiders general manager
means both on and off the field. There are some expectations he’s got to meet in both areas.”
Incognito did not play in 2018 after being released by Buffalo. Last May, he reportedly was taken into police custody and sent for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation after an altercation at a Florida gym.
In August, Incognito was arrested after he allegedly threatened employees at an Arizona funeral home following his father’s death. According to online court records, Incognito pleaded guilty in March to a charge of disorderly conduct. Charges of threatening injury and damaging property were dismissed. TMZ reported Incognito received 11 months probation and a 90-day suspended jail sentence, which he could avoid through measures including a mental-health evaluation.
Incognito still could face discipline from the NFL, something Mayock acknowledged Tuesday.
“We’ve talked to the NFL and stayed in touch with them,” Mayock said. “There’s a chance there could be league discipline. Don’t know what it will be. But again, it’s a one-year, minimum prove-it deal. And we feel that he properly (has incentive) to stay straight. And we can’t control what the NFL will do.”
Mayock said Incognito looked “five to 10 years younger” than his age in a workout in Alameda this month and the Raiders did “a lot of homework” before signing him.
“I feel comfortable that he’s going to compete on the field,” Mayock said. “And I feel comfortable that ... he wants to compete off the field. And we’re going to provide the infrastructure for him. So at the end of the day, I think it’s a two-way street. We’ve got to help him help himself.”
Since being hired as the Raiders’ GM, Mayock has reiterated an intent shared by head coach Jon Gruden to add “foundation” players, defining the word as “talent and character.” He was asked Tuesday how adding Incognito fits that mission.
“It’s a fair question,” Mayock said. “I’ve talked a lot about foundation. Jon and I both talked a lot about foundation. I think we reinforced that with our draft. And I think at the end of the day, you can’t have all Boy Scouts. And what you have to do is you have to do your homework on each individual case. And we’ve done our homework.”
Incognito figures to compete at left guard with Denzelle Good, who did not practice Tuesday. Incognito was not available to reporters. His agent, Ken Sarnoff, said of Incognito in a text message: “He is doing very well and extremely excited about becoming a Raider. He looks forward to being a positive influence on and off the field.”
With Miami in 2013, Incognito was found by an NFL investigation to have harassed teammate Jonathan Martin and was suspended for the rest of the 2013 season. Incognito did not play in 2014 before returning to start 48 games from 2015 through ’17 with Buffalo and make three consecutive Pro Bowls.
Incognito previously played under Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson with the Rams in 2006 and ’07. Olson on Tuesday described Incognito as “just a really tough football player, brings a tough demeanor to the room and to the offensive side of the ball.”
New teammate Antonio Brown also spoke positively about the move.
“Incognito’s a great guy, super-funny with a big personality,” the receiver said. “Aggressive guy who loves the game of football. I think he’s extremely hungry and excited to be back out here.”