Bills' Richie Incognito emerges from 'some dark days'

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Richie Incognito used several words Monday to describe what the past year and a half has been like for him, but he kept coming back to one in particular.

"I think at the end of the day, humbling is the best way to describe it," the newest Buffalo Bills offensive lineman said at the conclusion of the team's first voluntary workout of the Rex Ryan coaching era.

"Incredibly humbling," Incognito continued. "Taking a step back, taking a year off, it was a learning process, it was frustrating, it was definitely difficult sitting out. Knowing I could still play, knowing I had talent to contribute."

Incognito had been in football purgatory since the middle of the 2013 season when he became embroiled in the Miami Dolphins' bullying scandal that involved fellow offensive lineman Jonathan Martin. Incognito was suspended by the NFL and sat out the final eight games of that year, and then was unable to land a job in 2014 despite visits to a couple of clubs where "things just didn't work out."

Things didn't work out because no team was willing to risk signing the controversial guard. But the new-look Bills rescued him from exile in February, signing him to a one-year contract, and you can make a strong case that there isn't a player in the NFL more motivated by a fresh start than Incognito.

"There were some dark days where I didn't think I was ever gonna play again," the 31-year-old said. "It really just kind of fueled me to work harder."

Incognito stayed in shape working out at his home in Arizona. He said that's what kept him "sane" during this ordeal, and it crystallized his belief that he wasn't ready to say goodbye to football.

"It kind of forced me to go back and really look at things and say, 'Is this still important to you? Is this still what you want?' And the answer was always a resounding yes," he said. "It's the NFL, it's always a prove-it type thing. I'm just anxious to get in here and get going. I know what I bring to the team, I know what I bring to the table."

The Bills had clearly defined weaknesses at both guard positions last season, and it was an area that Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley knew had to be addressed. Incognito recognized this, too, and he admitted that he targeted Buffalo as a place to search for employment. Once he met with Ryan, Whaley, and the owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, there was no need to job hunt anywhere else.

"We had pinpointed a few teams once the offseason had started that we were going to kind of go after and attack," said Incognito, who had played for the Bills briefly at the end of the 2009 season and knew Buffalo was his kind of place. "It was really great to sit down with Terry and Kim. We went in and we had constructive talk, they were open to the things that I had to say. I definitely have a lot to live up to."

There are only a handful of players still on the team from his first stint in Buffalo, and one of them, defensive tackle Kyle Williams, is all in on having him back.

"When we signed him, I was happy," Williams said. "He was a great teammate. Obviously he's a good player and when he was here, he was a fantastic teammate."

Ryan feels similarly, which is why Incognito represented the first major transaction of his tenure in Buffalo. Ryan has been reciting the same mantra since he got into coaching; he wants to have a tough team populated by tough players. Incognito certainly brings that element to the offensive line.

"I just wanted to see the sincerity he was speaking with and where he was at," Ryan said in describing the meeting that took place. "He has a burning desire to play this game, still. I think that's important. I can't wait to watch him. He's a Bill now, he's one of us now, and I'm glad he's with us."

Incognito has had a long time to think about his past, and it's certainly filled with questionable behavior dating back to his first couple years in college at Nebraska. The bullying scandal has been tremendously costly to his career and to his persona, but the well-tattooed 305-pounder is relishing a clean slate.

"There were a lot of things said and done that I wish I could change, but moving forward, you have to accept that there was definitely a learning process and a growing process and a process that I went through to become a better person," he said. "Nobody's perfect. I think the biggest thing is, I've learned from what I went through, I've learned from what went down. I've grown from it. That's where I'm at."

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Maiorana writes for the (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle