Richie Incognito's second go-round with the Bills has not yet become official, and still there is a variety of reaction to signing one of pro football's most disturbing players.
The team acknowledged it has an agreement in principle with Incognito, a guard of immense talent. There were few details regarding the contract they offered or whether it's just a tryout deal. Most likely, it's a one-year deal at a reported $2.25 million.
No matter the terms, it was clear Sunday there was no middle ground between the negatives of signing Incognito and the positives.
Incognito is a player coach Rex Ryan wants, and one who fills many Bills needs. If Ryan wants a bully, he couldn't ask for anyone more suited to the role, for better or worse.
In The Buffalo News, writer Jay Skurski puts the team's attraction to Peck's bad boy in black and white.
"The simple answer is, the team needs help at the position he plays. Right guard Erik Pears is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the left guard position was a revolving door between Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson and Kraig Urbik in 2014 — none of whom impressed."
Yet there is no black and white to Incognito, whose history of on- and off-field trouble dates back to his days at Nebraska.
In noting the impending signing of Incognito on Saturday, SN offered the lowlights of Incognito's career. To recap:
— A player possessing first-round talent falls to the fifth round in his draft class because of character concerns.
— The Rams, who took a chance on him, dispose of Incognito after he becomes the poster boy for unnecessary roughness penalties.
— After performing at Pro Bowl levels in 2012, Incognito became embroiled in the Dolphins' bullying case. Incognito was suspended indefinitely, and the Dolphins eventually lose him and tackle Jonathan Martin from their offensive line. His abuse reportedly included messages with racial slurs. He also reportedly harassed the wife of a team staff member. He had been the subject of a sexual harassment incident earlier involving a female volunteer at a team golf event.
It's also worth remembering a number of teams, the Broncos, Buccaneers and Chiefs among them, gave Incognito tryouts before last season but didn't sign him. Numerous reports say teams didn't want to deal with a possible negative reaction.
Still, it's clear Incognito was, and likely can again be, among the NFL's best guards. That the Bills need his talent is unquestionable. That they don't need his issues is even more obvious.
You bet there are critics of the Bills' move. The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. considered it the latest player mistake made by Ryan, who tends to put rotten eggs in his roster and expects them not to foul everything they touch.
This, from The Star-Ledger's Steve Politi:
Incognito no doubt understands that this is his last shot at an NFL career, and he'll surely be on his best behavior in Buffalo, whatever that is. But if the move backfires the way some of his attempts to rehabilitate bad characters in New Jersey did, Jets fans will be able to watch from afar and say three familiar words:
"Same old Rex."
Bills fans must worry about whether this is the same old Richie.