Philadelphia Eagles Should Consider Signing Richie Incognito

When star interior offensive linemen Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce went down with injuries in September, there was speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles might express interest in veteran guard Richie Incognito, who has been unemployed for over a year after being embroiled in a high-profile bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins in 2013. 

The Eagles didn't bite, and now Mathis and Kelce are back. However, with right guard Todd Herremans now out, they should reconsider that option.

The major difference, of course, is that there was no need to panic in September. The Eagles knew both Mathis and Kelce would return, but that's not the case with Herremans, who has been placed on injured reserve with a torn biceps. 

The Eagles might be capable of weathering the storm, just as they did when the interior of the line was ravaged for much of the first half of the season. However, let's keep in mind that this is a team expecting to compete for its first championship in half a century. 

When you're fighting an uphill battle and you're already without your starting quarterback and your defensive leader, merely weathering the storm isn't good enough. The Eagles have to become better as we approach December and January. They have to hit their stride, rather than hope to maintain their current pace. 

Second-year undrafted free agent Matt Tobin, who stepped in for Herremans Monday night against the Carolina Panthers, isn't a starting-caliber player. He's been getting bullied in spot duty all season, has given up 15 pressures in only six starts and is graded by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) as the eighth-worst pass-blocking guard in football. 

Incognito is a nine-year veteran with 102 starts under his belt. He was a Pro Bowler in 2012 and had a top-10 PFF grade at the guard position before the Dolphins suspended him last season. 

Year	Grade	Rank
2013	7.2	9th out of 72
2012	9.4	23rd out of 81
2011	4.9	33rd out of 78
2010	12.9	16th out of 82
2009	6.8	45th out of 84
2008	8.2	33rd out of 74

Teams have generally been unwilling to touch the 31-year-old with a 10-foot pole ever since his life was turned upside down by bullying accusations from teammate Jonathan Martin last fall, and it certainly didn't help that Incognito checked himself into a psychiatric care facility earlier this year. 

However, he does appear to be on the straight and narrow at the moment. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed confidence in his progress, per Conor Orr of NJ.com, and he was reinstated by the league in August. 

He met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the summer, according to ESPN. The Indianapolis Colts may have had him on their radar as well, according to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star. In any case, Incognito remains a free agent despite landing a workout with the Denver Broncos earlier this week, according to The Denver Post. He also had a shot with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.

With the playoffs approaching, it might only be a matter of time before somebody deems the reward to be worth the risk. On the field, Incognito has been extremely reliable for close to a decade. Off the field, you'd have to think he knows better now. 

Does anybody think he's even going to consider becoming a locker room distraction at this point? He has to know that his next chance will be his last, so I'd expect Incognito to be on his best behavior. 

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald pointed out to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio this week that "Incognito needs to be on a roster where he’s not expected or permitted to be a leader." That's Philadelphia to a T. 

With Mathis, Kelce, left tackle Jason Peters, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, tight end Brent Celek and running backs LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles already on the offensive roster, there's no need for Incognito to play a role off the field. 

With the Eagles, he'd have a chance to redeem himself by staying quiet and doing his job, and the reality is a guy like Incognito can do a much better job than Tobin or any other potential replacement for Herremans. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon