Hard Knocks: The Chad Johnson saga

Is there anyone out there who's had a worse week than Chad Johnson aka Chad Ochocinco? With an arrest, a divorce and a ticket out the door at Dolphins camp all in the last few days, the chances are unlikely. The former NFL superstar who's given us laugh after laugh in the past for his creative and often controversial touchdown celebrations was released from the Miami Dolphins on Monday, less than 48 hours after being arrested for allegedly headbutting his wife of 41-days in the driveway of their home. With a fallout for his actions to be expected, not even Johnson was prepared for the long week ahead that he had in store. Just a day after being dumped by the Miami Dolphins, his wife decided to dump him as well, ending their brief marriage which became official on July 4. 

Johnson has become more productive on our television screens as a member of the hit TV show 'Dancing with the Stars' and through social media on Twitter as of late than he has on the football field. After logging 1,000+ yards a season in seven of his first nine years in the NFL which led the AFC on two occasions and the entire league on another, the 6-time Pro Bowl wide-receiver hasn't quite been the player he once was and was an absolute ghost of his former self last season as a member of the AFC Champion New England Patriots. Despite having Tom Brady as his quarterback, the 3-time All-Pro wide-out was a non-factor during New England's title run and registered a career-low in receiving yards (276) as well as receptions with a measly 15 grabs and matched a career-low in touchdowns with 1 which he snagged his rookie year in 2001. Hoping to restore his image as well as his NFL career, Chad changed his last name from Ochocinco back to Johnson. But things have only gone downhill for the former star since then.

With his release, the Chad Johnson era in Miami ends before it could even begin, much to the dismay of Dolphins linebacker Karlos Danzby who told a Florida radio show that he disliked that Johnson wasn't given a third strike by the organization and that he hated that the team didn't stand behind him. With the 34-year old Johnson once again seeking work, though it may take awhile, an opportunity should present itself sooner or later as teams will look to fill holes before the start of the season with preseason injuries occurring. Not to mention he's a year younger than Randy Moss and four years younger than Terrell Owens, both of whom are seasoned receivers who have found work despite having their fair share of troubles in the past. Who knows, perhaps we'll see all three of them playing in the same division this year say if the St. Louis Rams take a chance with him. And though I haven't tuned in to this season of HBO's Hard Knocks, I'm taking a wild guess by saying the next episode will feature Johnson getting cut.


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