The NFL is looking into allegations that Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito used racial slurs against a Jacksonville Jaguars player in Sunday's playoff game, according to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.
Following the game, Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue tweeted "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."
Ngakoue was referring to Incognito's jersey number 64. He also used the hashtag #Iaintjonathanmartin!," referring to Incognito's role in a bullying scandal with another player when he was a member of Miami Dolphins in 2013.
Incognito was suspended for eight games that season for what report described as "a pattern of harassment" against Martin, which included racial slurs. He signed with the Bills in 2015.
Incognito's teammates have come to his defense, saying they heard no such slurs during Sunday's game.
"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," tweeted fellow offensive lineman Dion Dawkins.
Incognito has not responded to Ngakoue's tweet and was not made available to members of the media Monday morning when players cleaned out their lockers in Orchard Park. Fellow lineman Eric Wood told reporters, "I didn't hear anything." Dawkins reiterated his position, saying "I was next to Richie the entire game and Richie did not say one thing, and if he did, [you] best believe I would’ve been one of the first people to basically check him on it."
Ngakoue stood by the tweet when asked about it Monday. Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell told reporters, "There were a lot of guys talking, like it was coached, to try and get us to lose our cool...I understand wanting to give yourself an advantage but there are boundaries. You don’t go to racial slurs. That’s not OK."
The Bills lost their first playoff game since 2000 by a score of 10-3.
