The Los Vegas Raiders offensive line was once a dominant group, but they have lost some key members in recent years. Richie Incognito was signed late in the 2019 offseason and not much was made of it. However, he ended up being one of the team’s best players in 2019 and became a leader.
Unfortunately, Incognito was limited to playing in two games combined over the last two seasons due to injury. He was still one of the best guards in the league when he was able to play, but his durability has suffered. The Raiders decided not to re-sign him this offseason and Incognito didn’t want to play elsewhere.
Las Vegas and Incognito announced that the four-time Pro Bowler signed an agreement to retire as a Raider.
Although he was only with the team for three years, he made an impact on the fan base. Fans embraced him and so did his teammates. Incognito has been a controversial figure in the past, but he was always a strong teammate on the Raiders and had only a positive impact.
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Incognito sends a message to Raider Nation.
While he wasn’t always perfect, Incognito put together a really solid NFL career. He played for five different teams over a career that spanned 16 years. At times, he was one of the best pass protectors in the league. However, his off-field issues alienated him from many teams and fans.
The Raiders decided to embrace him and give him home even though he only played 14 games with the team. In his retirement announcement, Incognito sent a message to the Raiders fan base:
Incognito explains their decision to retire
When he was on the field, Incognito had plenty left in the tank. He allowed just one catch during the 2019 season. His body began to break down before his ability did. Incognito was a constant topic of conversation over the past two seasons as the team continued to wait for his return. The return never came and that’s when he knew it was time to retire.
I’ve dealt with injuries over the last two years that I’ve never had before in my career. My body told me it was time and I knew I was ready to hang them up. And even though some in my inner circle may not believe me, I’m ready. There’s no going back.
My last few seasons couldn’t have happened with a better group of men, guys who embraced me. I wanted to end on my own terms. Not many people can do that in this league and that’s why I’m so proud to retire with the Raiders.
