There’s no doubt that Chad Ochocinco is back in the spotlight of the NFL, front and center just the way he likes it. Last week he mailed the Ravens a giftbasket full of deodorant and then the Bengals went out and won the game. Chad was also fined $20,000 for trying to slip a referee a $1 bill during a video review, created a new rule stating that defenses can’t single-cover him, and this week he wanted to send the Steelers a package of mustard. Coach Marvin Lewis put the kibosh on that plan but the mustard still made it to Pittsburgh anyway.
But that did not stop someone from greater Cincinnati, identified on the package’s return address as “Fans of Chad Ochocinco,” from mailing the Steelers a box of the yellow condiment, which arrived yesterday.
It was a result of Ochocinco’s midweek Twitter pledge to send the Steelers’ defensive backs mustard because they couldn’t “ketch up.” Heinz Field puns intended.
“Thanks, Chad,” cornerback Ike Taylor noted after peeking into the box on his way to practice.
What are the chances that “Fans of Chad Ochocinco” really was Chad? I’d say pretty fair (not to say he doesn’t have a huge following). Here’s the thing about Chad screwing around: as long as the team is winning, it’s fine, but once they start losing, that’s when his antics and become a “distraction.” That’s the double-standard the media has for him that I’ve never understood. What’s he doing differently? He’s still the same guy, win or lose so the media should treat him the same way. Now that he’s back to Pro Bowl form with 639 yards and 5 touchdowns, they love him. I just hope he has a relatively quiet game in a Bengals win Sunday because my opponent in the Coors Light Fantasy League has Ochocinco. I still think I’m in good shape with Randy Moss and Marques Colston to counter.
