A great AFC East rivalry just got even more intriguing.
The Buffalo Bills, whose head coach Rex Ryan is in his first year with the team after spending six seasons with the New York Jets, have claimed linebacker IK Enemkpali off waivers. The move comes one day after Enemkpali was released by the Jets after punching quarterback Geno Smith in the face. Smith suffered a broken jaw that will require surgery and force him to miss six to ten weeks.
New #Bills LB IK Enemkpali is on his way to Buffalo as we speak. He’s given the organization his side of the story.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 12, 2015
More details have emerged as to what precipitated the incident. Apparently, Smith reneged on a promise to attend a football camp Enemkpali puts on in the summer in his home state of Texas. He reportedly then requested to be reimbursed for the airfare to bring Smith down, around $600. When Smith continued to refuse to pay, it came to a head in the Jets locker room on Monday.
Ryan has not been afraid to bring players to Buffalo who’ve had questionable histories in terms of their influence in the locker room. One of the first offseason signings the Bills made with him in charge was offensive lineman Richie Incognito. He was in the news during the 2013 season due to a bullying scandal involving him and Jonathan Martin while he was a part of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team on November 3rd of that season.
Enemkpali played collegiately at Louisiana Tech and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jets. His impact was limited during his rookie season, appearing in just six games while making three tackles and two pass break-ups.
The 24-year-old Enemkpali joins a Bills linebacking corps that includes two players, Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham, who finished the 2014 season with over 100 tackles. The defense as a whole returns the bulk of the unit that led the league in sacks, including Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes. Being able to retain Hughes after he became a free agent in the offseason was perhaps one of the biggest front office moves on that side of the ball.
Rex: "IK made a mistake but he's not a bad guy. Being around him for a year, I'm very confident he'll be just fine." pic.twitter.com/DNWWzkci1m
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 12, 2015
Whether or not Enemkpali is able to contribute or even make the team remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the coach that drafted him has gifted him with a second chance after an ugly incident that all involved hope is behind him.
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