NFL news roundup: Incognito’s hearing postponed, Revis says he’ll get physical with Megatron

Richie Incognito will have to wait to have his hearing, and Darrelle Revis isn’t backing down from Calvin Johnson. Those stories, plus updates on Mike Smith, Leonard Hankerson and Jake Locker.

by Louis Bien

Nov 22, 2013, 1:00 PM UTC

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Suspended Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito agreed to have his grievance hearing postponed to accommodate the ongoing independent investigation by NFL investigator Ted Wells. Incognito is hoping to have his "indefinite" suspension lifted and paychecks returned for missed games.

Incognito was suspended by the Dolphins in October for his alleged harassment of Dolphins guard Jonathan Martin. Incognito has maintained his innocence since, saying that he had a close relationship with Martin, and that the racist and threatening messages he sent him were in jest.

Unless the NFL adds games to Incognito's suspension, his suspension will be over after the Dolphins' Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets. The collective bargaining agreement mandates that team's suspension can last no more than four games.

Darrelle Revis vows to play physical against Calvin Johnson

Darrelle Revis isn't backing down from the monumental challenge ahead of him. Calvin Johnson has been adding to his Hall of Fame candidacy on a weekly basis this season, but Revis believes he can knock Johnson off his game when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet the Detroit Lions this Sunday.

“My thought was always just to be physical with him,” Revis said. “No receiver wants to get jammed and pressed at the line, so just be physical with those guys and match what they bring to the table.”

Revis spent the first half of the season getting back up to speed from the torn ACL he suffered last season. The Bucs have been trusting him more and more on an Island in recent weeks, however. Sunday’s matchup should be a lot of fun to watch.

Falcons owner expected to retain Mike Smith

The Atlanta Falcons have won just two games so far this season, but the ugly start isn't expected to cost head coach Mike Smith his job. Falcons owner Arthur Blank has reportedly assured Smith in private that he should have no worries about job security.

The Falcons are currently in last place in the NFC South after beginning the year with Super Bowl aspirations. Injuries on both sides of the ball have helped nuke their season prospects, however. After last Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Blank publicly affirmed his trust in Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and hinted at changes elsewhere during the offseason.

We love our head coach and we love our general manager. It’s up to them to candidly look at everybody -- candidly, honestly, critically -- and see what we have to do. There should be nobody that escapes that critique. That’s their job, and I have confidence they’ll do it. And they are doing it. And they will do it.

Leonard Hankerson undergoes surgery, season over

Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson underwent surgery to repair his LCL and ACL, effectively ending his season. Hankerson was initially thought to require only LCL surgery, but doctors found an ACL tear during the procedure and repaired both ligaments.

Hankerson was thought to be on the verge of a breakout year entering his third season in the NFL, but his season will end after just 10 games. He finished with 375 yards and three touchdowns on 30 receptions.

Jake Locker facing 5-6 month recovery

Jake Locker underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury, and may be facing a 5-6 month recovery. Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak said that Locker doesn't have an exact timetable for return, but the quarterback should be able to return for the start of offseason workouts in May.

Locker’s season ends after a promising start. In seven appearances, he completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 1,256 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Unfortunately, his latest major injury could put his future with the Titans in jeopardy. He will have missed 25 regular season game in three seasons.