New England Patriots Acquire Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth

The New England Patriots got in big on the frenzy of player transactions on July 28th, picking up wide receiver Chad Ochocinco from the Cincinnati Bengals and defensive tackle/reclamation project Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins.

Ochocinco figured he might be through in Cincinnati after the Bengals drafted Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green in the first round.  Chad’s still got plenty left in the tank, though, and should bolster the Patriot receiving corps.  It also helps that he and Patriots coach Bill Belichick formed a mutual admiration society after working together in the Pro Bowl.  One little problem is that Chad Johnson changed his last name to Ochocinco a few years ago to match his jersey number.  It turns out there already is a number 85 on the Patriots:  second year tight end Aaron Hernandez.  Normally, a more established player coming into a team will agree to pay the other player a certain amount of money to switch jersey numbers if the incoming player wants to wear the same number he had with his previous team.  Hernandez could charge a pretty steep price if he wanted to; after all, it would look silly to have the name “Ochocinco” and the number 89 (currently the only number available in the 80s) on his jersey.  Or he could change his name to Chad Ochonueve.

Haynesworth did not get along at all with Washington coach Mike Shanahan, and comes over to New England with a reputation for having an attitude problem.  Sometimes a player needs a different situation and coaching staff, which he will certainly have in New England.  For one thing, the Patriots tend to win a lot and the Redskins don’t.  If Haynesworth does indeed fit in and plays up to his capabilities, he could be a great pickup.

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Tags: albert, bill, chad, cincinnati bengals, football, new england patriots, washington redskins