Raiders Take Chance On Troubled Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman Richie Incognito

News coming out of O*kland the Raiders signed troubled former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Richie Incognito has sparked a great deal of debate throughout the Raider Nation and the NFL. Incognito, who was released by the Miami Dolphins back in 2013 for allegedly bullying a former teammate and has a history of anger issues, signed the one-year deal after spending the 2018 season getting his mental and physical health back on track.

Incognito last played for the Buffalo Bills in 2017 and is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. The left guard has a ton of talent, no real physical health concerns and has proven to be a very good lineman, when at his peak. The Raiders still are awaiting word of a potential suspension for an August arrest after suffering an emotional breakdown before his father’s funeral. According to Scottsdale, Ariz. online court records, Incognito pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct in April, while charges of making threats and damaging property were dismissed.

While Incognito’s past is checkered with mental breakdowns, alleged bullying, racist voicemails, and a ton of emotional baggage, the Raiders have never been known to shy away from controversy or controversial players. In fact, considering the franchise’s history with “Bad Boys” like Bill Romanowski, Lyle Alzado and John Matuszak, Incognito very well be one of the team’s greatest success stories, IF he can figure it out and stay out of trouble.

It comes with great risk — both internally and when it comes to franchise PR — but with a high ceiling for a reward. Incognito’s football skills rarely have been in doubt. When protecting franchise quarterback Derek Carr’s blindside, you need someone willing to go above and beyond to protect him. Incognito has an intimidation factor many players don’t. The perception of his volatility alone is enough of a mental edge. Considering Carr was sacked 51 times last season, third-most and 15 more than in any of his first four seasons, protection is paramount.

He has consistently graded out as one of the top lineman in the NFL, when healthy and in control. While it dipped some in 2017, he was still named to the Pro Bowl while leading the perennially terrible Buffalo Bills to the team’s first playoff game since 1999.

With Incognito comes the baggage

His rap sheet of past transgressions is somewhat long. Whether it’s his — along with fellow lineman Mike Pouncey and John Jerry — alleged bullying of former teammate Jonathan Martin, or his detainment for an involuntary mental evaluation after allegedly throwing tennis balls and a dumbbell at a person at a Boca Raton, Fla., gym last May, there will be questions.

The football aspect of the game doesn’t seem to be an issue. After a May 6 visit to Raiders headquarters, the team reportedly came away impressed with both his physical and mental health. While his short retirement after helping lead the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs in 2017 was due to health and stress concerns, those seem to be passed.

“I’m done,” he told writer Vic Carucci when he decided to step away last year. “That’s it. It’s been a long career. Went to the doctor. My liver and kidneys are shutting down. The stress is killing me. It’s just about doing what’s right. I just want to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Mental health is one of the NFL’s biggest failure. Incognito has been open with his mental health issues but he hasn’t gotten much help from the league itself. One study from Harvard on mental health in the NFL released last fall stated, “Given their physical size and fitness, celebrity status and relative financial success, it is easy for people to dehumanize players and disregard the mental health challenges of playing in the NFL.”

The question really is: will Raiders fans embrace him or will some of his past antics be too much for them? Negative opinions on Incognito vary, especially considering the racial connotations of what he was recorded saying on voicemails in the midst of the Martin Saga.

Richie Incognito is a fat racist piece of shit.

I hate that asshole. Won’t be hard to root against Oakland now.

— Jesse . (@jessetaylorrr) May 28, 2019

He participated in destruction of another human being through racist attacks and bullying and this is his reward.

Black folks better #BoycottRaiders "Richie Incognito signed to a one-year deal with the Raiders, NFL Network reports" https://t.co/U5PXOiNKG9

— John Sandy Campbell (@807NorthPark) May 28, 2019

Richie Incognito sure seems like someone who should stop playing football for his own health and safety pic.twitter.com/AlezBsInME

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 28, 2019

Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict, Gareon Conley and now Richie Incognito in the same locker room?

They should try to pry Pacman and Greg Hardy out of retirement at this rate, good god. https://t.co/pgvdDAd8Gq

— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) May 28, 2019

With a locker room that’ll feature Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict and Incognito, it could be both volatile and emotional but also talented. It bolsters the line, it adds to the veteran experience, and it gives the Raiders an inexpensive player who should play far above his his below-market salary, which hasn’t been reported yet.

While some responses were on the negative end, there are also fans who feel he deserves another shot, especially after working to take care of his past transgressions and mental health issues. Romanowski sure loved the move, as did other analysts who were able to detach their understandable emotions from their logic.

Great move for the Raiders signing Richie Incognito! Nasty, mean & tough is what the Raiders OL needs. Great day for Carr, AB, and company. #RaiderNation

— Bill Romanowski (@billromanowski) May 28, 2019

Projected Raiders starting O-line:

LT: Kolton Miller, 2018 first-rounder
LG: Richie Incognito, 4-time Pro Bowler
C: Rodney Hudson, 2-time Pro Bowler
RG: Gabe Jackson, still pretty good
RT: Trent Brown, highest-paid OL ever

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 28, 2019

Let’s not turn today into bashing everyone else’s team for their players with current or past criminal cases & excusing or attacking Incognito’s past behavior. Let’s all hope that the #Raiders have a plan in place for his issues if he’s going to be here for 16 games.

— Silver & Black Pride (@SilverBlakPride) May 28, 2019

The #Raiders are signing former #Bills G Richie Incognito to a 1-yeardeal, per @RapSheet. He's back in the league after a year off and joins Jon Gruden, Antonio Brown and Vontaze Burfict, among others.

This team is a must for Hard Knocks. Must.

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) May 28, 2019

As strictly a football move, it makes sense. Incognito is replacing a lineman, Chaz Green, who once allowed five sacks in one game. He brings plenty to the table with his ability. If he can keep it together, stay out of trouble, work hard and have success, there’s no doubt the Raiders Nation will slowly warm up to him as a member of the franchise.

If he succeeds, and gets his life on track, it could be one of the greatest comeback stories in the NFL this year. He’s made some mistakes, and — perhaps — he is simply saying the right things, but, in this case, the juice could be worse the squeeze. Carr needs protection and there may be no player in the league more primed to protect his quarterback.

Then again, if he doesn’t mesh with the other volatile egos in the locker room, it could end up very differently.