Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito is being accused of using racial slurs during Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue took to Twitter following the game to make the accusation.
Great win to day! And 64, you goin have to come harder than some weak racist slurs. I’m proud of my African heritage, as are 70% of the other Black players in this league. #Iaintjonathanmartin!
— YANNICK NGAKOUE! (@YannGetSacks91) January 8, 2018
“Great win to day!” wrote Ngakoue before calling out Incognito. “And 64, you goin have to come harder than some weak racist slurs. I’m proud of my African heritage, as are 70% of the other Black players in this league. #Iaintjonathanmartin!”
Incognito wears number 64 and the hashtag at the end evokes the name of Jonathan Martin. Martin was Incognito’s teammate with the Miami Dolphins until 2013, when Martin reported extreme bullying to the league at the hands of Incognito. Incognito was eventually suspended eight games for his role in the scandal but returned to the NFL in 2015 with the Bills.
Even with his history, it’s hard to see Incognito doing something so public during a game especially after the past allegations against him. While he’s always been seen as someone to push the envelope, his transgressions in Miami were done behind closed doors. Was he saying racist things while standing next to his African-American teammates?
In fact, one of his teammates came to his defense late last night. Left tackle Dion Dawkins, who has played directly next to Incognito all season including the Wild Card game, took to Twitter.
Just for the world to know, everyone always tryna put some bad thing on @68INCOGNITO i was next to my guy the entire game and the entire season and believe me, if he was saying some racist stuff I would have been the first to let him know that was out of line. Cut The BS
— Dion Dawkins (@DDawkins66) January 8, 2018
With the team traveling at the time of the tweet, Incognito and the Bills public relations staff has been unavailable for comment. Ngajkoue hasn’t tweeted anything further or responded to multiple outlets’ requests for more information. More information should come to light during the day on Monday and it would be in everybody’s best interests to wait and see what all the parties say.
Update:
Bills center Eric Wood weighed in:
Eric wood reacts to Yannick Ngakoue’s claim that Richie Incognito used racist slurs in yesterday’s game #Bills #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ElgSGbe2vq
— Toby Motyka (@TobyMotyka) January 8, 2018
The NFL will investigate:
NFL official said league is “looking into” allegations that Bills’ G Richie Incognito directed a racial slur at Jaguars’ DE Yannick Ngakoue.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2018