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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Just days into this NFL offseason, reports were in that the Buffalo Bills were not interested in bringing back Terrell Owens who only served one season up north as the teams wide receiver. Thus created the brilliant idea of conjoining Owens with Pro Bowl WR Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati who were in desperate need of a receiver at the time. Both Owens and Ocho made their desire to play with one another public and even joked around as being the Batman & Robin of the NFL with Carson Palmer playing the role of Alfred. However, those talks eventually died off once the Bengals took a much younger approach and signed the much younger Antonio Bryant.Four months later, Owens was still on the market and left without a place to play. With little interest in the future Hall of Fame wide-out and training camp underway, Owens' asking price began to drop which made for an even better reason for Cincy to sign him. Once it was all said and done, Owens signed a 1-year, $2Million dollar deal with an additional $2M possible for bonuses, all thanks to good friends Palmer and Ochocinco who both lobbied for the team to sign him. Just weeks ago, Ocho's dating show, "The Ultimate Catch" aired on VH1 with T.O. starring as his wing man, hoping to help Ocho find true love. But now the two can be teammates much rather on the playing field, than in the dating game as their dreams become a reality. A new question comes into play as many are wondering how the relationship between Ocho and T.O. will hold.
With quite possibly the two largest egos in the entire league on the same field for 16 games, critics already have their doubts. As for the dynamic duo themselves, they're more curious to see how teams will defend against them. Either way, it'll be a test of friendships for sure. Prior to Owens signing with Cincy, the rebuilding St. Louis Rams were also linked to Owens as a potential suitor in landing the 6-time Pro Bowler. For their sake, Owens signs elsewhere with a better team and a better chance at a ring. Something that remains on the bucket list of Owens. He also signs with a team that owns a better storyline. Surrounding their young QB with a drama queen and someone who's been known for being a virus in the locker room is the last thing they want. Sure Owens would've helped the Rams go from a 1-win team to a 3-win team, but he also would've helped Sam Bradford go mentally insane.If he can stay healthy, expect some big numbers out of Carson Palmer this year who now has three weapons to throw to in the wide receiver department. I think I speak for every football fan when I say this, the one thing I'm looking forward to, is what kind of touchdown celebrations the duo will have for us.
Continuing the surprisingly busy early offseason, numerous trades and acquisitions have taken place. But one of the biggest headlines, is what could have been done, but wasn't. After the Buffalo Bills expressed their decision to not offer wide-out Terrell Owens a contract to return for next season, the media went into a craze, with rumors of Owens possibly landing in either Cincinnati or Baltimore. But now, both destinations are just about out of the question. While the Ravens decided to trade for Arizona's Anquan Boldin, the Bengals decided to take a much younger approach by signing free agent and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Antonio Bryant. With the contract Owens seeks and the role he expects to play in, Boldin's signing pretty much cancels any chance of Owens becoming a Raven.In Cincy, prior to Bryant's signing with the team, T.O. was scheduled to visit with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for dinner. But just hours before the two were expected met, Owens was informed that the club instead found its man with Antonio Bryant, sending T.O on a flight back home to Atlanta. As much as the world wanted to see T.O. donning the black and orange stripes, no man wanted to see the 6-time Pro Bowler with the Bengals more than Chad Ochocinco. With the Bills not offering Owens a contract, the thought of having Ocho and T.O. alongside one another made for a perfect story. Even #85 thought so, by making public via twitter. "Man it don't take that damn long to sign on the dotted line, lets go dammit!!! You can be Batman i will be Robin, lets go!!" My favorite part of the discussion, was what Ocho said later, "Oh and Carson is gonna be ALFRED."With T.O. stuck on the outside looking in, little interest has been shown thus far, as no team wants a drama queen on their team, nor are they willing to dish out big bucks for a 36-year old veteran who is coming off of his worse year since 1999 when he played for the 49ers. Owens played his one and only year in Buffalo last season finishing with a lackluster total of 829 yards and 5 touchdowns. But will the slim interest in one of the game's best wide receivers of all-time force him to retire and hang it up once and for all? Personally I don't think so, but things can't be looking too promising in the eyes of T.O. right now.
What's been a rather sad weekend for the Cincinnati Bengals, ends up on an even more sour note. Just days after the team lost wide receiver and fellow teammate Chris Henry, the Bengals were forced to go back to work and return to the playing field against the San Diego Chargers. Chad Ochocinco who had planned on wearing the #15 on his jersey in honor of Henry, did not get the opportunity, as the league has a ban on players changing jersey numbers for a single game. Ochocinco did however get his message across after scoring a touchdown that would give the Bengals the lead. Known for his more controversial and creative touchdown celebrations, Ocho dropped down on his knees and began to pray while pointing up to the sky in a touching manner. The emotional Ochocinco was then seen with fellow teammates hugging and walking back to the sidelines with tears running down his face. The Bengals would end up losing the game by a score of 27-24.
On December 16th, Chris Henry was rushed to the hospital after jumping out the back of a moving truck. Henry sustained serious injuries to his head and died early the next morning. The young Henry was reported dead on December 17th and passed at the early age of 26. In remembrance of Henry, the Cincinnati Bengals will wear the no. 15 on the back of their helmets as seen in the photo below.
RIP - Chris Henry
This past weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals completed a season sweep of the division rival and defending Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the first time since 1998. The Bengals have also completed the season sweep of their division foe Baltimore Ravens, marking the first time in franchise history Cincinnati was able to sweep both in the same season. Even with a banged up and injured Cedric Benson, the Mighty Bengals were able to come out on top, 18-12 in Pittsburgh. Benson, the potential MVP candidate went down in the second quarter and was replaced by back-up running back Bernard Scott. Scott scored the game's only touchdown on a 96-yard kickoff return in the opening quarter.Seeing your star back go down with an injury is never music to a team's ears. However the Bengals are fortunate to have a core of good back-ups. & With the new addition of former Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, the team adds depth to an already strong position. Johnson, who was recently released from Kansas City last week could make his Bengals debut as soon as Sunday against Oakland, if he learns the playbook soon enough. & With Benson treating an injured hip, his status for this week's game is doubtful which would play a perfect role if Johnson does indeed play.The running back position hasn't been the only headline made for the Bengals. In fact, prior to Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, wide-out Chad Ochocinco wanted to send mustard to the Steelers locker room. Coach Marvin Lewis however simply said "No". The prank worked in week 9 when #85 sent a box of deodorant to the Ravens locker room. The barer of practical jokes and on field antics was fined $20,000 by the NFL for "Bribing" officials in week 9's defeat over Baltimore. After a reviewable call in which Chad was called out of bounds on, Ochocinco was seen jokingly trying to hand an official a dollar bill. The NFL didn't find it funny, as they refused the $1 and instead demanded a whopping $20,000 instead. Now that doesn't sound like a fair trade. Let's see what Chad has under his sleeve this week against Oakland.
