Report: Broncos Strongly Consider Signing Richie Incognito

Oct 27, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito (68) prepares to block against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

According to a report by FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Denver Broncos have been seeking an ‘edge’ and ‘toughness’ for their offensive line, and that may come in the form of former Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito.

Incognito has a reputation as a dirty player in the league, but he’s a pretty good player and obviously is unsigned at this point because of the whole fiasco with he and Jonathan Martin in Miami last season. Incognito was accused of bullying and was suspended due to conduct detrimental to the team, and both players ended up leaving Miami this offseason.

According to Glazer, Incognito has been in Denver since Monday, the day after the team had experimented with some serious changes along the offensive line, moving Louis Vasquez to right tackle in place of Paul Cornick (who replaced Chris Clark), Manny Ramirez to right guard (formerly the center), and Will Montgomery from the bench to the starting center position.

If Incognito comes in, he’ll obviously have to learn the offense quickly but it’s possible the Broncos could elect to move Orlando Franklin back to right tackle, keep Montgomery at center, move Vasquez back to guard, and put Incognito at left guard.

Whatever the case, the Broncos are clearly not okay with what they currently have on the offensive line, and are going to drastic measures to fix it. Mike Klis of the Denver Post does a great job covering the team, but he says signing Incognito would create a Tebow-sized media fire, which is, in my opinion, nowhere near the same thing at all. Compared to Tim Tebow, Richie Incognito is like an undrafted free agent.

This is a move, if the Broncos feel is an upgrade, they have to make. Incognito’s past doesn’t really bother me because guys who get a second or third chance usually either have turned things around, or they come with a deal that includes no strings attached if the Broncos want to get out of it.

Which is why I hope the Broncos give Ray Rice a look when he’s reinstated, but that’s another story entirely.

The Broncos’ locker room can handle guys with attitudes, but more importantly, doing their due diligence with a two day workout/interview indicates to me that Denver is laying down the groundwork for Incognito to get to work as soon as possible, and it would shock me to see him leave Denver without a deal as far as it’s progressed already.

If that is the case and the Broncos don’t sign Incognito, you can expect they’ll be on the lookout for whatever help they can get on the offensive line, but you won’t find much better than a 2012 Pro Bowl player right now, and the Broncos know that.

Incognito would also replace what the Broncos have missed in the form of Matt Prater’s tribal tattoo art.