Just before the 2008 season started, Chad Johnson officially changed his name to Chad Ochocinco. "Ocho Cinco" was what Johnson called himself, and it is Spanish for "8, 5." Well it caught on with the media and so Johnson decided to actually make it last name. The result was disastrous for his NFL career. In his four seasons as Ochocinco, he only had one 1,000 yard season and never eclipsed 72 catches in a season. The only two times he never bettered 85 receptions in a season as Chad Johnson was his rookie and sophomore campaigns. I think Chad thought that no matter what he did or said in the media, he would always produce on the field. When he didn't produce, he tried being the exact opposite of himself, quiet and reserved, and that didn't work either. His problem was that he forgot how to be himself. He was either too outspoken or too quiet, never somewhere in between like he was when he was at his best.
Ochocinco caught a break last season. He was traded to the New England Patriots and got to work with an elite quarterback in Tom Brady. Unfortunately, the lockout gave Ocho and Brady little time to gain on-field chemistry. Since Brady had so many other reliable targets, Ocho rarely saw the ball come his way, and he finished the season with only 15 catches. The good news was that those catches were fairly deep as he averaged 18.4 yards per catch. 13 of his 15 receptions resulted in first downs. It's a small sample size, but last season Ochocinco showed he could still be a down field threat. This offseason the Patriots signed Brandon Lloyd which left no reason for Ochocinco to remain on the team, and so they cut him. I would say that if no lockout took place, Ochocinco would have had a great 2011 season and still be a Pat as we speak.
The Miami Dolphins, badly needing receivers, signed Ochocinco shortly after the Pats cut him. Not surprisingly, he was the best receiver in camp for the Dolphins and was looking to be a top target for Fins QBs. But again something happened with Ochocinco. He had gotten married to reality star, Evelyn Lozada, over the summer and three weeks after the marriage changed his name back to Chad Johnson. The reason for the change is unclear as some say Lozada forced him to while others say he did to get back to old self. In mid-August, just days after coach Joe Philbin told Johnson to tone down his act, Johnson was arrested for domestic battery. He and Lozada got into an argument and Johnson became so angry that he headbutted her. The Dolphins cut him almost immediately after the arrest, and Lozada filed for divorce three days after the assault.
Johnson laid low until today, which was his day in court. He pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge and received one year probation and is forced to take anger management classes. Today was also the day his interview on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" aired. It might have even been live, I don't know much about the show. During the interview Johnson bared his heart and soul to hosts James Brown and Chris Collinsworth. He said he has lost everything and that he can no longer be that 'same fun guy.' He went on to say that now he has to go out and prove a point and that it was an 'honor' to be a married man. He said that Lozada was the person that 'completed his world, completed him, period,' and he know understood what it was like to lose something that you love. He concluded the interview with saying that he had to work on himself. Brown had asked him if he could repair his relationship with his now ex-wife, and he said responded by saying there is nothing left to say to her and that he has to use his actions because actions speak louder than words. I watched the entire interview, and at no point did I think, "Wow, he's just throwing out a sob story that he hopes everyone will believe.' He seemed honest and sincere throughout, and blamed his recent troubles all on himself.
I think the assault and subsequent fallout with his wife was the wake up Johnson so desperately needed. I think he's finally took a step back and looked at himself and said, "Who am I? This isn't the real Chad Johnson." Plenty of players have come back from far worst scrutiny than Johnson has received this summer. Michael Vick, Adam Jones, and Donte Stallworth, to name a few, have all made mistakes but were accepted back into the NFL. Vick and Jones are still playing while Stallworth kind of floats around the league and goes where he is needed. If Vick can make a comeback after leading a dog-fighting ring, Stallworth after vehicular manslaughter, and Jones after multiple arrests and league suspensions, then Johnson should have no problem returning to the league. Chad Johnson will return to the National Football League if he wants to, and a team will sign him if he cleans up his act and works hard on the field. All he has to do is be himself, not Chad Ochocinco, just Chad Johnson.
References
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8406775/chad-johnson-gets-probation-domestic-battery-case
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/2584/chad-johnson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Johnson_(wide_receiver)
http://newsone.com/2043926/chad-ochocinco-johnson-interview/
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