Controversial Raiders star officially announces his retirement from NFL

Las Vegas Raiders' offensive guard Richie Incognito has been a controversial figure throughout his NFL career.

He was drafted in 2005 by the St. Louis Rams. Most notably, he was involved in a bullying scandal during his time with the Miami Dolphins. He was accused of throwing racially-fueled insults and threats towards teammate Jonathan Martin's mother and sister.

Incognito has also faced allegations of dirty play, including gouging players' eyes, throwing punches, and making illegal tackles. The NFL star sought therapy and, at one point, was also placed on an "involuntary psychiatric hold." It was for an altercation at a Life Time Fitness club in Boca Raton.

On July 15, Incognito announced his retirement from the NFL.

In a statement released on Twitter on Saturday, Incognito wrote:

“After stepping away from football in 2018, I knew if I came back, it would be to finish out my career on my terms. It also had to be with the right team, which I found with the Raiders. There’s always a hesitancy in coming back when you’ve been out of the game, but after a tryout with the Raiders, I immediately knew it was the place for me. It made me hungry to come back.”

Incognito added that he felt at home with the Raiders.

“It felt like home the minute I got here. I’d played so long, and I’d gotten this 'bad boy' reputation, but it just fit with the Raiders. They trusted who I was, and they let me play.”

After spending time with the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Dolphins, Incognito landed with Las Vegas.

The Raiders were perfect for Richie Incognito's style of play

In a long, heartfelt letter to the team and fans, Incognito expressed his love for the game. He also mentioned how his "bad boy" reputation fit right in with the silver and black. The guard was a four-time Pro Bowler in his NFL career. In 2006 whlie playing for the Rams, he blocked for an offense that produced a 4,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers. It was one of only four offenses to accomplish that feat in NFL history.

Throughout history, the franchise has garnered a reputation for being dirty, mean, or just plain brutal, making them a perfect fit for Incognito.

It came as little surprise that Incognito felt at home with Las Vegas and decided he wanted to retire as a member of the team.