Chad Ochocinco has yet to respond to the seemingly over-the-top criticism from Tedy Bruschi.
Ocho’s usually active Twitter account has been dormant. During Wednesday’s locker room media time, Ochocinco was absent. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com points out this is a change from Ocho’s normal routine. (He’s openly courted the Patriots media with effectiveness.)
Reiss thinks how Ochocinco reacts to the firestorm will be telling. We could be entering a crucial phase of Ochocinco’s tenure with the team.
While the Patriots don’t need Ochocinco to be a No. 1 receiver, they expect production considering the signing bonus they gave him in August. Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald writes that the coaching staff has “turned up the heat on Ochocinco” to pick up the offense quicker.
“Everyone has an opinion on everything, and none of it really means anything,” Tom Brady said. “The only thing that means anything are the guys in this locker room and what we do every day in practice.”
The Patriots coaching philosophy is to endlessly apply pressure internally so that players are more prepared for what comes on Sundays.
Guys that can’t keep up ultimately get left behind.
UPDATE: Ocho speaks. Sort of. He went through the locker and told reporters with a smile: “Y’all know I’m not talking’.”
He also ended his Twitter dry spell: “Just checking everyones pulse,yall good? I’m sure you guys are fine, i love you and i mean that in every sense of that 4 letter word #1LUV.”
We’ll update this vital breaking story as events warrant.