This could be the end of the line for Bills guard Richie Incognito. Days after firing his agents via Twitter, Incognito has told Peter King of The MMQB (on Twitter) that he is strongly considering retiring, though he might be willing to return for one last season at the right price. Meanwhile, he sounded more definitive about the decision in his conversation with another reporter. 
“I’m done. That’s it,” Incognito tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). “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.”
Incognito, who does not seem likely to reach the Hall of Fame after the Jonathan Martin controversy in Miami, is talking to the Bills about his contract and has until Sunday to change his mind about retiring, King adds (on Twitter).
Incognito may also be motivated by a desire to to turn the tables on the Bills. This offseason, the Bills asked Incognito to accept a reduced base salary, bringing him down to $3.65MM from $6.325MM. The Bills gave him a $1MM bonus in the process, but it was still a significant step back for the veteran.
That sort of contract restructuring is not uncommon in the NFL, but it’s a bit unusual for a player who is coming off of a third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. The advanced metrics also project Incognito as a top performer. Last year, Incognito placed as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked seventh amongst all guards in 2016 and second in ’15, making him the Bills’ top-rated offensive lineman of the last three years.
Incognito will turn 35 in July.
For the Bills to nickel and dime a leader of the offensive line with Woods retirement is extremely foolish.
Richie has been the main reason Shady has dominated in Buffalo.
Get it done Beane!
Richie is a Class A Scumbag. The air in Buffalo will smell cleaner with his retirement.
You don’t know anything. This man has been nothing but class. So I’m guessing you talking about the bullshit made up by the jackass in Miami! The same guy who was arrested. Richie has demonstrated time and time again that was not true. So get your facts straight
He is nothing but trouble going back to college. Do your research, he is far from a class act.
He has done more community work than most athletes in fact he will be escorting veterans to Washington DC to partake in a ceremony. He is always working with sick children and other community endeavors, so forgive if I tell you don’t know the Richie who as I stated is a leader of this team who mentors the younger players who lay praise for his timeless commitment to them.
His actions since he has been a Buffalo Bill have been amazing so I’m speaking of the man of the present.
I don’t think outsiders can truly understand the sense of community that exists in small market areas like Green Bay and Buffalo. It’s special.
I don’t think he’d have much trouble finding a job if he wants to keep playing . He’s a top ten talent, but he’s a major head case . So who knows what teams would think about signing him. At least we know Miami would be off the table for sure !
“I just want to be in the hall of fame….” Yeah that’s not gunna happen. This isn’t the 50’s where you can act erratic and still have it swept under the rug. Incognito has had too many public meltdowns. Seems like he is having another one right now as well. But who knows, he could. I don’t know the moral compass of the Hall with coke heads like Mike Irving and Deion Sanders in already. Plus many, many more drug users.
play on the field should determine HOF in my opinion. but i don’t vote and I don’t really care.
I don’t know if Incognito’s career warrants being inducted into the HOF (my first instinct is that he shouldn’t be, he was very good but not great, but that’s just my uninformed opinion). Regardless, his saying that he “just wants to be in the HOF” to me reeks of arrogance.
Is he better than Alan Faneca? I’d say no and therefore Incognito would fall short of the HOF.
My thinking exactly, tho as a Steeler fan I could be biased. I just think that there are enough better linemen who are more deserving.
Sorry to hear about those health issues that Richie is having to deal with. Fans that paid to see him play never got cheated out of a nickel. With each passing year the HOF becomes more irrelevant. Fan voting has ruined it.