TUESDAY, 11:08am: As Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets, Incognito will have a base salary of $900K, a signing bonus of $100K, and a workout bonus of $100K. The veteran guard can also earn up to $350K in per-game roster bonuses, and $800K in playing-time incentives. So it looks like the deal can only be worth $2.25MM if it maxes out, with a more modest base value.
Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk notes that the playing-time incentives begin if Incognito plays at least 60% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps, and max out if he plays more than 75%.
MONDAY, 11:03am: The Bills have officially signed Incognito, the team announced today. The press release confirming the move includes a statement from co-owner Terry Pegula, which reads as follows:
“I personally met with Richie, along with Doug Whaley, Rex Ryan and Kim [Pegula] regarding an opportunity to earn a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster. Obviously, we all discussed Richie’s past experience in the NCAA and NFL. We are convinced that Richie is prepared to move forward and has and will continue to take the necessary steps to improve himself as a person and a teammate. Following discussion with the rest of the coaching staff, we as an organization will provide him with the opportunity to do so.”
SATURDAY, 8:02pm: Incognito’s one-year deal is worth $2.25MM, tweets ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
5:14pm: The Bills have officially reached an agreement with Incognito, according to a team press release. It’s a one-year deal, tweets ESPN’s James Walker. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed.
2:27pm: We heard last night that Richie Incognito was visiting the Bills, and now the team has signed the controversial free agent guard, according to Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network (via Twitter).
Before the season, Dallas Robinson assessed Incognito’s stock, noting that in the absence of guaranteed money or a large financial commitment, the Pro Bowl guard’s talent should be enough to warrant at least one team taking a chance on him.
Incognito was able to work out for teams, but was unable to sign on for the 2014 NFL season despite being cleared to play. He will get another chance with Rex Ryan and the Bills, as well as a chance to face his former team – the Dolphins – twice in 2015.
Bully!
GO BILLS THE NEW LOW STANDARD! WIN WITH CLASS, NOT TRASH!