While change is never a good thing for most people, it's certainly one of the toughest things that NFL players have to face when they move teams. As many Patriots fans are aware, it's been a tough transition for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco in the New England offense.
In an interview with the Boston Herald, Ochocinco revealed that the best outlet for him in terms of advice seeking after being traded to New England was talking to former Patriots star receiver Randy Moss and future NFL hall of famer Terrell Owens. Ochocinco explains:
"For me, those guys were my outlets. Not Twitter," Ochocinco said. "To have those two guys in my corner, I talk to them all the time. (Moss) keeps me sane for 16 weeks, every week. Every week we talked. T.O., too. We're close-knit, us so-called diva receivers. Who is going to understand what I'm talking about, or going through, from my standpoint? Not Bill, not Tom. It's like having my own personal support group. I love those two, man. I didn't want to burden anyone else in here with that bull. They don't want to hear that." (via Boston Herald)
It doesn't take a blind monkey to figure out that Ochocinco's transition into the New England offense hasn't really gone as originally planned. During the Patriots' 2011 regular season, Ochocinco only caught 15 passes for 276 yards and a lone touchdown. Despite not being an integral part of the offense, he says he has no regrets joining the Patriots.
"No, there's no bittersweetness," he said. "There's a competitive side to me that is angry, the competitive nature in me that it didn't go the way it normally has. I routinely produce a certain way every year. So when that routine goes astray like it did this year, it feels funny. It's something I had to get used to. But I took it in stride. I did everything I was asked on and off the field. I didn't become disgruntled, as I've done in the past. When I want the ball, I've let it be known I want the ball. I didn't do any of those things (this season). I bought into the Patriot Way, and it paid off. Maybe not the way everybody thought it would. I don't know." (via Boston Herald)
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