New England Patriots release WR Chad Ochocinco - NFL News
Once the toast of the National Football League (NFL) wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco’s stock has fallen greatly since the heady days when he lit up the league with his brilliant displays for the Cincinnati Bengals.
The wide receiver had spent 10 brilliant years with the Bengals as he continued to put up big numbers for the franchise.
Next came a big money move to the New England Patriots who signed the wide receiver to a restructured three-year deal worth $ 6.35 million.
It seemed that life could not get much better for the receiver as the Patriots, unlike the Bengals were perennial challengers for the Super Bowl and with a legend like quarterback, Tom Brady providing the service it was assumed that Ochocinco would thrive
at his new team.
Things did not turn out that way as the wide receiver failed to completely get his head around the new Patriots playbook and his stock continued to fall after being used sparingly in the Patriots 2011-12 campaign where they made a run to the Super Bowl finals.
The wide receiver ended up with his poorest production numbers of his career as he played 15-games making 15 receptions for a gain of 276 yards and scored just a single touchdown.
He was also kept out from playing in the Super Bowl XLVI that took place in Indianapolis.
The Patriots went on to lose that game at the hands of the New York Giants to won 21-17 by the thinnest of margins.
With New England adding new talent to the wide receiver position, Ochocinco went even further down on the depth chart and a trade seemed to be on the cards.
After spending just a single season with the Patriots, the franchise on Thursday, released the wide receiver from their roster after failing to find a trade for him.
Ochocinco after the release of the news later wished luck to the Patriots in their future endeavours and praised the fans with a tweet.
"Thoroughly enjoyed the oppurtunity to play for the "Patriot" organization... fans were f------ wicked awesome, I wish all of you the best...," Ochocinco tweeted.
The wide receiver failed to thrive amongst the big talent in New England and a move to a more modest franchise is needed for Ochocinco to regain his lost spark.
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