Buffalo Bills name offensive lineman Richie Incognito to starters list

Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito took the next step in his return to football following a 15-month hiatus for his role in the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal.

Three days into training camp, coach Rex Ryan appointed Incognito the team's starting left guard. Ryan made the announcement Sunday when he included Incognito along with centre Eric Wood and left tackle Cordy Glenn as three offensive linemen he regards as starters.

"One thing's for sure: Richie's a starter," Ryan said. "He looks about as good as any of them. He really does."

That's a significant step for Incognito, the eighth-year player who signed a one-year contract with Buffalo in February. He had been out of football since midway through the 2013 season, when he was suspended for being a central figure in a bullying scandal that led to offensive lineman Jonathan Martin leaving the Dolphins.

An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen persistently harassed Martin, who played for San Francisco last season.

Incognito went unsigned last season despite being reinstated by the NFL.

Ryan credited Incognito for taking advantage of his second chance, and praised him for reporting to camp in "great shape."

"He's everything we thought he'd be," Ryan said, noting Incognito was among the team's top players in conditioning tests held on Thursday, a day before camp opened in suburban Rochester, N.Y. "I think he's probably along further than I even thought he'd be as far as coming back in shape. It's like he never missed any time."

The Bills are retooling their offensive line, which was one of the team's weak spots last season. Rookie third-round pick John Miller and Cyril Richardson are competing to start at right guard. Second-year players Seantrel Henderson and Cyrus Kouandjio are competing to start at right tackle.

Incognito was pleased when informed of Ryan's comments. He thanked the coach, general manager Doug Whaley, his teammates and new Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula for giving him the opportunity to play. Incognito met personally with the Pegulas before the Bills extended him a contract offer.

"It was a long road back. There were darker times. It was something at times I didn't think was going to happen," Incognito said, referring to the time he spent out of football. "Now I'm just trying to earn everyone's respect and make guys around me better."

Ryan's announcement coincided with the first day Bills players were allowed to practise in pads.

The significance of putting on pads wasn't lost on Incognito, who hasn't worn them since his last game, a 22-20 overtime win over Cincinnati on Oct. 31, 2013.

"You know, it left a bad taste in my mouth to kind of leave the game like that," Incognito said. "A lot of time away. A lot of time to think. And today, I definitely woke up with that in the back of my head."

This is Incognito's second stint with the Bills. He played in three games for Buffalo in 2009, when the Bills claimed him after he was waived by the St. Louis Rams.