OG Richie Incognito wants to return to the Dolphins. (Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE)
Offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who was at the center of the Miami Dolphins’ bullying scandal and recently underwent treatment at a mental-health facility, wants to rejoin the team.
“Returning to the Dolphins was my No. 1 goal from the time I got suspended,” Incognito told WSVN-TV in Miami on Wednesday. “I want to return to the community in Miami and resume my playing career as soon as possible.”
Incognito’s contract has expired and the Dolphins have shown no interest to bring him back.
The guard confirmed that he entered a private mental-health facility to deal with the stress he was experiencing following his suspension and subsequent release of the Ted Wells report. Incognito admitted himself after smashing his own Ferrari in a fit of rage on Feb. 26.
—The NFL will not dock the Pittsburgh Steelers of a 2014 Draft pick because of the incident involving coach Mike Tomlin in the Thanksgiving night game against the Ravens in Baltimore, the team announced Thursday.
Tomlin earlier was fined $100,000 for standing on the field and nearly making contact with Baltimore kick returner Jacoby Jones.
—Defensive end Jared Allen is working on “final details” of a contract with the Seattle Seahawks and the deal could be completed by the weekend, according to ESPN.
Allen, who visited with the Seahawks among other teams during the early stages of free agency, returned to Seattle on Thursday to hammer out contract details. Terms of the deal were unknown, but he had stated his willingness to retire if he didn’t receive a reasonable contract from a contending team. Allen, 31, has 128.5 career sacks and has posted double-digit sacks in seven consecutive seasons, including 11.5 for the Minnesota Vikings in 2013.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks signed offensive lineman Stephen Schilling, according to agent Doug Hendrickson. Schilling was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan by the San Diego Chargers in 2011 and has played in 18 career games with two starts over three NFL seasons.
—The Atlanta Falcons signed record-setting return specialist Devin Hester, the team confirmed Thursday. Financial terms of the reported three-year deal were not disclosed.
Hester, the NFL’s career leader with 13 punt return touchdowns and total kick return touchdowns (18), was not re-signed after eight seasons with the Chicago Bears.
—Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Cotchery caught 45 passes for 602 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, primarily working out of the slot. He’s not a speed burner, but Cotchery is a sure-handed veteran entering his 11th season.
—The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive lineman Tom Johnson to a one-year, $845,000 salary plus incentives.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder played as a reserve in 30 games for the New Orleans Saints over the past three seasons, registering 55 tackles and 5.0 sacks.
—The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Antonio Cromartie and will pair him opposite rising star Patrick Peterson, according to multiple reports.
Cromartie struggled last season, in part due to injury, and was released by the Jets, who were unwilling to pay a $5 million roster bonus due this month and absorb his $14.98 million salary cap figure for 2014 but did hope to re-sign him.
—Charles Woodson signed a one-year deal to return to the Oakland Raiders for his 10th season with the franchise.
Woodson, 37, is in his 17th season in the NFL and considered retiring after joining the Raiders in 2013. His contract is believed to be similar to the one-year deal worth a maximum of $4.3 million he signed in 2013.
He played all 16 games for the Raiders last season. It was the first time in three years he didn’t miss a game with injury.
—All 32 teams were accounted for at Missouri’s pro day in Columbia on Thursday, when pass rusher Michael Sam got his chance at a redo of his disappointing workout at the Scouting Combine last month.
After completing one 40-yard dash in an unofficial 4.73 seconds, Sam was sidelined from his second attempt by a right hamstring strain. The time is faster than he posted in Indianapolis (4.91) but leaves many questions unanswered for a player likely being evaluated as a niche pass rusher who would play only a part-time role in the NFL, in addition to special teams.
Sam is attempting to show NFL teams running 3-4 base defenses that he’s a potential stand-up pass rusher despite struggling with that transition at the Senior Bowl. Between the Senior Bowl and the combine, Sam announced he is gay, and he is expected to become the first openly gay male athlete to play in the NFL.
—Former Michigan offensive lineman and first-round NFL draft prospect Taylor Lewan has been charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of assault or assault and battery following an altercation last December, according to court records.
The Ann Arbor News reported Lewan is scheduled to be arraigned on April 8 in the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor, Mich. The incident occurred outside an Ann Arbor bar at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 when two Ohio State fans claimed an unprovoked Lewan punched and attacked them only hours after Ohio State defeated Michigan.
Lewan is projected to be a top-15 pick in 2014 NFL Draft. He is ranked No. 9 overall by NFLDraftScout.com.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached agreement Thursday on a one-year contract with free-agent cornerback Mike Jenkins.Tthe deal is for $1.5 million with incentives that could boost the total value to $2 million, NFL.com reported.
Jenkins, a former Pro Bowl selection, was with the Oakland Raiders last season after spending the first five years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys. In 15 starts for the Raiders last year, Jenkins had 65 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defensed.
—The San Francisco 49ers signed fullback Bruce Miller to a three-year contract extension through the 2017 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.
A seventh-round pick in 2011, Miller has emerged as one of the NFL’s most versatile fullbacks. In 45 career games, he has 48 receptions for 410 yards and a touchdown, 16 carries for 39 yards and serves as a lead blocker in the running game. He was enjoying a strong season in 2013 with a career-high 25 catches for 243 yards before suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the final two games.
