Controversial NFL player backtracks after announcing retirement, tells team, 'See you Monday'
So, is Richie Incognito retiring or isn’t he?
Earlier this week, the Buffalo Bills guard announced he was “done,” citing health problems.
@68INCOGNITO just told me the following: "I'm, done. 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." Full story to come.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) April 10, 2018
“That’s it,” he told Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News on Tuesday. “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 went to a doctor’s appointment the other day and they said, ‘Listen, the stress is killing you, what are you doing?’ And I said, ‘Listen, I’m just doing what I love and that’s playing football.’ So that’s why I’m done.”
When asked if there was any chance he’d change his mind, Incognito told Carucci: “Absolutely not.”
On Thursday, the Bills placed Incognito on the Injured Reserve/Retired list. He also informed the NFL Players Association that he was retired, according to New York Upstate.
#Bills officially place G Richie Incognito on reserve/retired list.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) April 12, 2018
But then the four-time Pro Bowler tweeted Friday night to the Buffalo Bills public relations department that he was not retiring.
https://twitter.com/68INCOGNITO/status/984964586293088256
“That was a short lived retirement. See you Monday for our off season program,” Incognito tweeted. He also included a laughing emoji and “#madeyoulook.”
So was he just joking when he announced he was “done” — or when he said he wasn’t?
ESPN’s Buffalo Bills correspondent Mike Rodak tweeted that Incognito was trying to be funny Friday and will remain retired.
It’s my understanding this tweet was a joke by Incognito. He’s still retired. I would anticipate some of his signing bonus being paid back, as well. https://t.co/jaDigIKj1N
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) April 14, 2018
But then he had another cryptic tweet on Saturday morning.
“Please release me from my contract,” Incognito tweeted to Bills public relations and the team accounts. “Contact @athletesfirst for further updates. Thank you for your service.”
https://twitter.com/68incognito/status/985161868363911168
Athletes First is the agency he fired on Twitter earlier this month.
@AthletesFirst You are Fired! I wish you guys nothing but the best moving forward. Thank you for all of your help and guidance along the way. It’s time for me to go in a new direction ✌🏼
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) April 5, 2018
Incognito has had a turbulent NFL career. He was known for earning penalties during his time with the Rams and was waived in his fifth season. Picked up by Miami, Incognito was suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team” after bullying Dolphins teammate Jonathan Martin, and he was out of football the next season. But he signed with the Bills and revived his career in Buffalo, earning earned Pro Bowl honors the past three years.
There had been no further update from the team on his status as of Saturday morning, so we’ll all just have to wait and see whether he’s still in the NFL or is becoming a full-time Twitter comedian.
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