The fine folks at Deadspin (if I’m nice maybe they won’t call me an idiot when I deserve to be called an idiot) have raised an interesting question about the ongoing unemployment of Richie Igcognito: Why is his unemployment ongoing?
He became a free agent in March, and Incognito has received only limited sniffs in the eight months since.
In early August, Incognito said his agent has “had some nibbles.” Later that month, the Bucs brought Incognito in for a visit, at a time that a trade for Logan Mankins was being finalized. Earlier this week, the Broncos gave Incognito a look-see, possibly to get the attention of the team’s current complement of guards.
Incognito’s behavior, while unacceptable, really isn’t all that different than what some other football players have done over the years. For Incognito, the problem arose from the fact that former Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin ultimately reacted to the comments and conduct in a negative way. Otherwise, no one ever may have known about it.
Incognito has plenty of talent. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald pointed out during Wednesday’s edition of PFT Live, Incognito needs to be on a roster where he’s not expected or permitted to be a leader. With a team like the Broncos, Incognito would be held in firmly check by quarterback Peyton Manning.
As the postseason approaches, a team that views Incognito as the potential difference between advancement and elimination could decide to give Incognito a chance. For now, his inability to get a job shows how hard it will be for someone like Ray Rice to find another team, if/when he’s reinstated.
