Why former Bills OL Richie Incognito is back in NFL headlines Why former Bills OL Richie Incognito is back in NFL headlines Nick Wojton Well, Richie Incognito is back in NFL headlines lately and it is quite the reason why. The former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman spent the 2015 to 2017 seasons in western New York. It was not a quiet signing when he originally joined the Bills. Incognito was suspended for his involvement in “Bullygate” following an investigation by the NFL while he was with the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo gave Incognito the chance to rebuild his NFL career, but the damage from the scandal was done. At least, that’s how it’s being looked at now. Incognito was the face for the incident revolving around Martin being a young player that was bullied by teammates. The narrative around Incognito has partially changed this week as Jonathan Martin has admitted the accusations were false, as he revealed via ESPN. “I never believed for a second I was being bullied,” Martin said. “It’s a story that I’ve been trying to fix for 10 years.” Incognito is taking the occasion to make sure people know. A quick breakdown of Martin’s update is that he told his parents about what happened and his mother came to his aide in Florida after he was upset by a situation that unfolded at the Dolphins’ team facilities. From there, Martin says a storm nearly instantly brewed. “I hadn’t even told my coaches, hadn’t told anyone,” Martin said. “And suddenly it’s on ESPN, right? I didn’t believe any of the stances I was taking, right, where I’m this victim. I wasn’t a victim, right? And, again, it’s been a point of consternation. Now retired, Incognito is doing much more celebrating about the revelation than just the one post above. Some are still pointing toward some NSFW and racially-charged commentary from Incognito that was revealed by the NFL investigation as reason for why celebration should still be toned back. Regardless, that’s why Incognito is in the news.
Why former Bills OL Richie Incognito is back in NFL headlines
Daniel Jeremiah mocks defender generating ‘first-round buzz’ to LA
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Jeremiah has Rams selecting Toledo DT Darius Alexander with the No. 26 pick The Los Angeles Rams have one of the NFL’s best young defensive lines after a strong finish to the 2024 campaign. LA has constructed an impressive unit over the last couple offseasons. NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah has the team adding to it in the 2025 NFL draft with a defender generating “first-round buzz.” In his Feb. 18 mock draft, Jeremiah has the Rams selecting Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander with the No. 26 pick: “The Rams continue to add dynamic players to their young defensive line. Alexander put on a show at the Senior Bowl, and he’s starting to generate some first-round buzz in league circles.” Toledo has been a sneaky NFL factory lately, with 10 players drafted since 2017, including Quinyon Mitchell whom the Eagles took at No. 22 in last year’s draft. The Rockets could produce back-to-back first-round picks and it’s not hard to see why regarding Alexander. Alexander was named Third Team All-MAC in 2023 and Second Team All-MAC in 2024 after amassing 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 26 games. He put on an absolute show at the Senior Bowl where his overwhelming power and bull rushing ability were on full display. Every Darius Alexander 1-on-1 from the Senior Bowl – this is what it looks like pic.twitter.com/qSu0VxExll — James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 30, 2025 Currently, Alexander doesn’t project as a first-rounder, yet it’s very possible that changes with the draft two months away. If he puts together an NFL Combine performance similar to his Senior Bowl outing, his draft stock will skyrocket quickly. The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs compared Alexander to former Jets standout Muhammad Wilkerson. (Mr.) Crabbs sent a warning to NFL offenses in his scouting overview to “look out” if everything clicks into place for the Toledo product: “Toledo Rockets defensive tackle Darius Alexander is a rocked-up, twitchy defender who boasts loads of potential in a variety of defensive schemes. Alexander has top-tier length and some flashes of strong gap control at the point of attack — he has the needed strength to live and play in any gap along the front. As a pass rusher, Alexander has an explosive first step and surreal power at his disposal when he’s well-coiled and can unload into blockers with his power rushes. He leans on his heavy hands to jolt with counters or pull blockers off their base. He has consistency questions and would benefit from refinement of his block leveraging, disengagement skills, and pass rush plan to be a more constant threat to offenses, but his physical ability is that of an impact starter.” Rams fans might have found their draft crush for the time being—until someone else comes along in the next mock draft.
Vikings, Byron Murphy Jr. Agree to Move Contract Void Date
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images And the move has some possible consequences The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to move the void date on the contract of another free agent, and this one could have some significant consequences as to whether or not the team uses their franchise player tag. Per a league source, the Vikings and CB Byron Murphy have agreed to push back the void date on his contract. Originally, the deal voided 23 days prior to the start of the league year (either today or tomorrow). Now, it’s the day before the start of the league year, which means… — Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 18, 2025 According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Vikings and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. have agreed to move the void date of his contract to the day before the start of the new league year, which is 11 March. While this delays the dead money hit that Murphy could put on the Vikings’ 2025 salary cap while the two sides work towards a possible long-term deal, the moving of the void date means that Murphy can no longer be franchised, as the deadline for tagging franchise and transition players is before the contract officially voids. Because the Vikings did not reach a similar agreement with quarterback Sam Darnold, he could still potentially be tagged as his contract has officially voided. However, Murphy can no longer have the tag placed on him, as it was speculated the Vikings might do a couple of days ago. There are a couple of ways that this could be interpreted. One is that the Vikings and Murphy are, in fact, working on some sort of longer-term extension that would keep Murphy in Minnesota at a reasonable price. The other is that they don’t have any interest in bringing Murphy back after all and will allow him to test the free agency waters. That latter explanation would be a bit of a surprise, given how well Murphy performed last season and the fact that he should still have plenty of solid football ahead of him given that he’s only 27 years old. Whatever might be going on behind the scenes, this development certainly lessens the chances that the Vikings will add to their relatively short history of using the franchise tag, since it doesn’t seem like using it on Darnold is in their plans and they really don’t have anyone else that would be worth placing it on.
What’s On Deck For You Now
Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images With the NFL season over, most people are looking elsewhere for entertainment. Some are obsessed with mock drafts and all the other insane, overrated draft news that will come our way with the NFL draft at the end of April. Others will be obsessed with college basketball when “March Madness” begins on March 18th for the men and March 19th for the Women. You also have the NBA going on now, and soon, the MLB will kick off its season as April closes in. With that in mind, I asked- What are you watching and following sports-wise during the NFL offseason? Beyond which leagues you are following, what are your teams that you are fans of in other sports besides the NFL or college football? Below are some of our thoughts and answers. Please feel free to add yours to the conversation if you missed the original post- dedstrk316 is down with some wrestling and the upcoming UFL season. I’ll follow all the major sports, ufc, AEW/WWE of course. UFL is coming up.I’ve found condensed classic dolphins games on youtube that I’ve been watching also.15-20 minutes long. Jptapt has it all planned out. There is no NFL off-season for me. From end of the season until free agency, I’m busy bitching about Grier. Francesco ITA is a warrior against nonsense! Good luck! Well as an ex tennis player i will follow closely italians on the circuit, especially Sinner… Then i will continue to fight here for reason to prevail against nonsense :p finfanfromsiam is on board with the Birmingham team. UFL! Go Stallions!! Well, there wasn’t much to comment on there. I’m unsure if the question was bad or just one of those random slow nights in the offseason. Hopefully, things will pick up for me so I can come up with some more solid questions. Thank you to each of you who took the time to comment on our question of the day.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Daniel Jeremiah sticks to his original plan for fixing the Miami Dolphins
Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images The Miami Dolphins may be forced to take their medicine instead of drafting a flashy player. The Miami Dolphins have aggressively constructed what they believe is a playoff contender. After failing to notch a playoff win, the team is at a crossroads and may be forced to face a hard reality. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s vision for Miami’s 2025 NFL Draft strategy hasn’t changed since his first mock draft nearly a month ago. After selecting Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. in Mock Draft 1.0, Jeremiah is leaning toward Alabama guard Tyler Booker, a junior, as Miami’s first-round pick in April’s draft. “Booker was a rock in the middle of the Alabama offensive line and he would provide a much-needed upgrade in Miami,” Jeremiah wrote. The Dolphins must address the offensive line, and guard is the obvious weakness. Left tackle Terron Armstead’s future is up in the air, but Miami has Patrick Paul waiting in the wings after selecting him in the second round of last year’s draft. Austin Jackson is locked in as the right tackle, and center Aaron Brewer has been a solid addition. Banks jumped three spots on Jeremiah’s second mock, going at No. 10 to the Chicago Bears. Tight end Tyler Warren went No. 7 to the New York Jets. Missouri tackle Armand Membou was mocked by the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14. Guard isn’t a flashy pick, and the impact is somewhat limited, but the Dolphins must address the position. Miami needs two starting-caliber guards, and given the physicality of football, added depth is essential to withstand a 17-game season.
Rams have three often forgotten players at corner
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images How do Tre Tomlinson, Derion Kendrick, and Emmanuel Forbes fit into the mix for 2025? Is 2025 the year that the Los Angeles Rams rebuild their cornerback room? They’ve spent the last two offseasons accumulating talent along the defensive front. This left little draft capital for corner, and instead LA signed veteran band-aids to fix the problem short-term. The first was a reunion with Darious Williams following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams started most of the 2024 season for the Rams, though the team can save more than $3M in cap space by moving on. Perhaps LA’s biggest misstep from free agency last year was bringing in Tre White who was fresh off of an Achilles and multiple knee injuries. The experiment didn’t last long before LA traded White midseason to the Baltimore Ravens. The third veteran signed to the patchwork quilt was Ahkello Witherspoon, who joined the team after the start of the regular season and following season-ending injuries to Tre Tomlinson and Derion Kendrick. Witherspoon has the bonafides to be a starting corner, but he’s nowhere near the upper ranks of the position. Effectively replacement level, though he does bring a size element to the position that few other Rams corners can also brag about. As we turn towards 2025, there are four corners (including Cobie Durant) effectively left on the roster—three of which have significant question marks and are often forgotten about in the roster calculus: Can Rams count on these three under the radar corners? Tre Tomlinson Most of the playing time we’ve seen from Tre Tomlinson has coming in the preseason, which makes it difficult to project his future in the NFL. As a rookie he had a few strong reps against his former TCU teammate and first round pick at receiver, Quinton Johnston. The key issue with Tomlinson is that he is severely undersized. That’s why he was available for the Rams in the sixth round despite winning the Jim Thorpe award as college football’s best defensive back. Given Tomlinson’s slight frame, the tendency is to move him inside into the slot—but he’s mostly only played outside and his skillset is better suited for the perimeter. Rams rookie CB Tre Tomlinson with some pretty nice coverage on the vertical route from Chargers rookie WR Quentin Johnston. Tomlinson made it too tough a catch for Johnston. Fun rep between two former TCU stars turned LA rivals. pic.twitter.com/h9Nh1MpUDB — Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) August 13, 2023 Derion Kendrick Similar to Williams, the Rams can save a few million by cutting Kendrick. Is it worth bringing him back for his fourth season to see if he can make improvements from the body of work over his first two years? Kendrick was thrust into action as a rookie on a bad Rams team in 2022. He lacks NFL caliber top-end speed, which makes him oft-penalized and susceptible to the deep ball. Still, he’s a physical player that has played a lot of football for the Rams. In a year where they may need bodies at the position, that might be enough to bet on. FIRST CAREER INT FOR DERION KENDRICK!!!#Rams get the ball back down 2!#SEAvsLAR #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/mggag4PQlx — KLSFootball (@klsfootball) November 20, 2023 Emmanuel Forbes Forbes is a former first round pick of the Washington Commanders. He was picked by the Ron Rivera coaching staff, but fell out of favor under the Dan Quinn regime. Washington released Forbes midseason last year before he was claimed by the Rams. Forbes played sparingly the rest of the year. While he may never live up to his draft status, Forbes can still be a useful player and is well-suited for LA’s zone-heavy defensive scheme. At 6-0, 180 lbs., it’s a fair question whether he can stay healthy and finish tackles—but first the Rams need to see that he can make an impact on the field. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. with the INT for the @commanders! : #CARvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/ggCaT6QhUj — NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
The Colts missed an opportunity by not drafting Jalen Hurts
Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images A lot of teams would like a redo of the 2020 NFL draft. Jalen Hurts was drafted 53rd overall in the 2020 NFL draft and has since gone on to appear in two Super Bowls, winning his first just a few short weeks ago. The man who claimed the Super Bowl MVP had a tumultuous colligate career that saw him post impressive numbers but ultimately be replaced by Tua Tagovailoa in the second half of the National Championship game. That changed his trajectory and along with other factors, pushed him down the draft board of every NFL team. I imagine, the Indianapolis Colts are one of those teams that wish they hadn’t passed on him, so let’s see what they could have done differently. That was the year Chris Ballard gave up a first round pick for DeForest Buckner, so the Colts were limited in their draft flexibility from the jump. While it would have been nice to have had a first round pick, it is almost impossible to argue against Buckner and what he has brought to the team from a leadership and production perspective. This seems like a move that most fans would make again given the chance. After that, things get dicey. Philip Rivers was the offseason prize for the Colts, and at best, he should have been seen as a two year stopgap. That draft was the perfect time to bring in a young quarterback that was going to take some time to bring up to speed. Sit him behind Rivers and let him learn and develop. The timing was ideal. The Colts had some notion of that as well as they drafted Jacob Eason in the fourth round. That obviously didn’t pan out. Hurts was already well off the board when the Colts picked Eason, so let’s see what they did before that fateful 53rd pick. 2020 was a deep wide receiver class, and many people had the Colts pegged to take someone like Michael Pittman Jr. with their first pick in the second round. Colts nation would have revolted if the Colts passed on an opportunity to draft a wideout here because they were going fast, and it was a top need of the team. Pittman has been solid, and although I would like to see more out of him at times, I have never really doubted the pick. Moving back into the second round to draft Jonathan Taylor is where things get interesting. It is hard to criticize what Taylor has brought to the team, but running backs are simply not like quarterbacks. We saw their worth unfold two seasons ago during Taylor’s holdout drama. The market value simply isn’t the same. Obviously, the Colts were willing to be aggressive enough to go up and get him, so they had the capital and trade partner to get Hurts. Make that move, and who knows how different things might be. The Colts would have rolled into 2020 with Philip Rivers mentoring Jalen Hurts, who could have taken over immediately that next year after Rivers retired. That would have avoided the Wentz and Ryan years and gotten the team off the quarterback carousel. They still would have had Buckner and Pittman too. Would they have found someone who would have duplicated Taylor’s output? Unlikely, but it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have gotten close. Having a player like Hurts might have created the illusion of having a better back on the roster because of his ability to create and open up the offense for others. We will never know what could have been, but it doesn’t mean we can’t stew about it over a long offseason.
Raiders draft: Not landing a quarterback in 1st round isn’t end of world scenario
Ohio State’s Will Howard, center, may intrigue the Las Vegas Raiders as a quarterback prospect in this April’s NFL Draft. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly coached Howard to a national title this past year as the Buckeye’s play caller. | Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images Franchise signal callers aren’t exclusively from the opening stanza and Las Vegas can eye 2nd to mid-round options Now the fun begins. With Pete Carroll’s coaching staff all set and the front office situated under general manger John Spytek, the Las Vegas Raiders embark on a key offseason under the new regime. Carroll is the grizzled veteran of a head coach that can set a culture, lead, and motivate. Spytek is a renowned talent evaluator who had a hand in building successful teams that culminated in the ultimate prize — a Lombardi Trophy. The to-do list for the Silver & Black’s chief personnel man is long and varied, as is the new boss man. From building the trenches at defensive and offensive line, to deciding exactly which of the 28 in-house free agents return for the 2025 campaign, the list ultimately boils down to this: Solving the quarterback conundrum in the desert. Free agency will come first when the new league year starts mid-March. That’s opportunity one to bolster a quarterback room that currently has Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew within it. Then comes the 2025 NFL Draft in late April. And, there’s always the trade market, if the Raiders are so inclined. Thus, Las Vegas isn’t without options. ️ 2025 NFL Draft QB Rankings!!@thorku uses his metrics to break down the top 18 quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class — including Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Jalen Milroe and more! : https://t.co/qyCyPPDtEr pic.twitter.com/fTNKjSyWG4 — Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) February 17, 2025 Spytek and Carroll won’t be going it alone on this one, though, as minority owner Tom Brady is slated to have sway on signal caller. That trio is slated to build a deliver a competitive football team for owner Mark Davis. And we’ll begin to see a clearer picture on prospects as both the league and NFL hopefuls descend upon Indianapolis for the 2025 NFL Combine from Feb. 27 though March 2. My take: Las Vegas would be wise to add a signal caller in free agency and select a prospect in the draft to build a competitive quarterback room and let the fight for the starting gig present the best option as QB1 for 2025. Now’s not the time to pussyfoot at the all-important position and it’s been too long since the Silver & Black had a legitimate competition for the starting quarterback role. The good news: Franchise quarterback’s aren’t exclusively from the first round of the draft. The bad news: The Raiders franchise isn’t steeped in historical success at drafting a signal caller. The Silver & Black drafted 39 quarterbacks all-time in franchise history and only one helped get the team to a Super Bowl title: Ken Stabler (hall of famer taken in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 1968 draft). Derek Carr, taken with the 36th overall pick int he 2014 draft, holds the franchise passing records but his nine seasons with the Raiders were marred with fleeting glints of success. Considering the two most successful drafted signal callers in franchise history were taken outside of the first stanza of the draft, it isn’t an end-of-the-world scenario if Las Vegas can’t land a first-round quarterback. And I’d be remiss to say: There are always draft risers and fallers, thus it’s difficult to truly say “that prospect won’t be available by X pick”. That all said, the Raiders do have four picks in the first three rounds: No. 6 and No. 37 overall, along with a pair of third-round selections. So another second-round prospect or even mid- to late-round signal callers is likely in order if the team doesn’t snare one in the opening round. .@MoveTheSticks has released his initial Top 50 @NFLDraft Prospects Full list: https://t.co/PTiTem7qhY pic.twitter.com/mjiRQp6CD9 — NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2025 Prospect rankings will fluctuate all the way up to and during the 2025 draft. But looking at that infographic above, there are “only” two prospects deemed first round worthy — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedur Sanders. Then there’s a slew of prospects like Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. One prospect that’ll be interesting to keep an eye one: Ohio State’s Will Howard. Now this isn’t some random shot in the dark, folks. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly likely has the best scouting report on Howard, as the coach orchestrated the Buckeyes’ offense this past season. In Howard’s lone season under Kelly, the quarterback threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sporting a 73 percent completion rate, Howard also showcased functional mobility in his 6-foot-4 and 235-pound frame. If there’s one person who knows Howard’s potential and, more importantly, limitations, it’s Kelly. Projections have Howard going as high as the third round and as low as the fifth, making him an ample prospect to gamble on with one of Las Vegas’ third rounders or mid-round selections. For great breakdown on what Howard offers, check out our Matt Holder’s breakdown of the Buckeyes quarterback. In fact, if you’re looking to get insights on the quarterback prospects — like Ewers, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, and Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Holder’s got you covered. It never hurts to eye mid- and late-round talents, as the Raiders minority owner is one himself.
Colin Cowherd: ‘No problem’ with Bills’ Josh Allen winning MVP Award (video)
Colin Cowherd: ‘No problem’ with Bills’ Josh Allen winning MVP Award (video) Nick Wojton Bills quarterback Josh Allen was not universally welcomed but count Colin Cowherd among those who agreed with the decision. Allen was named one of five finalists but most considered it a two-horse race between him and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. In the end, Allen edged Jackson out 383 to 362 in the final voting. While some had their questions, the FOX Sports analyst said he had “no problem” with Allen winning it. He went on to compare those around the two QBs as a reason why. Cowherd’s full breakdown can be found in the clip below: Read all the best Bills coverage at the Democrat and Chronicle and Bills Wire.
Vikes Views: Who Would You Franchise Tag?
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images The NFL Franchise/Transition Tag window is opening up today. The Minnesota Vikings have a few potential candidates to be tagged. Sam Darnold QB Franchise Tag $41.325M – Transition Tag $35.267M Darnold could be a bridge if JJ McCarthy isn’t ready or if the Vikings think Darnold is the answer they are searching for at QB. Franchise tag would be cheaper than an extension. Byron Murphy Jr CB Franchise Tag $20.357M – Transition Tag $17.198M Murphy is the team’s top CB. He played well down the stretch. The Pro Bowl MVP will be a top free agent if he isn’t tagged. Cam Bynum S Franchise Tag $19.626M – Transition Tag $15.598M Bynum is more of a transition tag candidate. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if he doesn’t make it back next year. I love his personality, but he isn’t a must have. Salaries listed above are the estimated Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag salaries. The Exclusive Franchise Tag is the average of the top 5 current salaries at the position or 120% of the player’s previous salary. The player cannot negotiate anywhere else. The Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag is the average of the top 5 salaries over the past 5 years at the position or 120% of the player’s previous salary. It gives the team right to match any offer. The team receives two first round picks if the player signs elsewhere. The Transition Tag is the average of the top 10 salaries at the position. It gives the team right to match any offer, but no compensation if the player signs elsewhere. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Follow me on X @GA_Skol