It has been widely assumed that Richie Incognito’s career with the Miami Dolphins is over in the wake of the Jonathan Martin bullying scandal, but the veteran offensive lineman has not given up hope. On Wednesday, Incognito said returning to the Dolphins is his top priority.
“Returning to the Dolphins was my number one goal from the time I got suspended,” he said during an interview with WSVN in Miami, via ESPN.com. “I want to return to the community in Miami and resume my playing career as soon as possible.”
He then went third person.
“Dolphins fans, Richie is well,” Incognito said. “Richie wants to come back and play. But the business has to handle the business end, and that’s it.”
The chances of that happening are incredibly slim. The NFL community has shown a tendency to forgive with players like Michael Vick and Ray Lewis. Incognito’s NFL career may not be over, but it is highly unlikely the Dolphins would have him back.
After the Ted Wells report blew the doors off the Dolphins’ locker room and exposed Incognito and several other players for alleged workplace harassment, Incognito supposedly went HAM on his own car and smashed it with a baseball bat. He voluntarily checked into a psychiatric rehab facility shortly thereafter, and now he’s looking to get his career back on track.
The Dolphins have already traded Jonathan Martin and fired offensive line coach Jim Turner and head athletic trainer Kevin O’Neill. Allowing Incognito to return would be horrible PR.