NFL

The Chad Ochocinco Experiment Is Reportedly Over In New England

When Chad Ochocinco ws traded to the New England Patriots last year, he was ecstatic, tweeting, “God is so good.” Unfortunately for both sides, that was where the Ochocinco-Patriots relationship topped out, and after reportedly trying to trade him earlier today, the Patriots decided to release the veteran receiver. Since other sources seem to be reporting this as well, it’s safe to say it’s legit.

Ochocinco never got untracked during his one year with the Patriots, catching just 15 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown during the regular season. ESPN analyst/former Patriot Tedy Bruschi speculated during the season that Ochocinco was having trouble picking up the playbook, and stuck by that assessment in analyzing Ochocinco’s release today. Whatever the cause, the output was the lowest of his 11-year career, and significantly lower than his output every year except his rookie season in 2001.

So now the question is: who takes a chance on Ochocinco now? Someone probably will. At 34, one wouldn’t expect him to be the type of player he was in his prime, but it also seems too young to be totally washed up. The Ochocinco-Patriots union never worked, but maybe it was just a bad fit. He’s an accomplished enough player – he’s got seven 1,000-yard seasons to his credit – that he’s worth a different team taking a risk on.

Not a team in need of a No. 1-type receiver – those days are probably behind him – but one lost year doesn’t mean Ochocinco can’t contribute somewhere, and we imagine at least one NFL team will see it the same way. But for the sake of his NFL career, his stint with that team is going to have to go better than his year with the Patriots. He’s not old yet, but he’s getting older – old enough that he can’t afford many more 2011-type flops before every team decides he’s done.