18 Patriots received a podium or an area for interviews during Tuesday’s Media Day. Chad Ochocinco, New England’s fifth receiver, was not one of them.
Ochocinco has been a Media Day regular for years. But he seemed a lot more comfortable as an “OCNN” anchor than as a New England Patriot reserve.
Ochocinco was downcast during the time we spent around him, seemingly miserable and waiting for the experience to end. He was asked if he was happy.
“You’re looking for the crazy Chad. He hasn’t been here all year,” Ochocinco said while staring down the reporter who asked the question. “Why would I be different now?”
Asked what was different about this year: “I’m wearing a jersey. That’s the only difference.”
On whether he was disappointed about his lack of production: “I don’t control that. I never have. Never been able to.”
I knew he didn’t want to answer silly questions, so I asked him about the intensity of the Super Bowl practices thus far.
“It’s been . . . practice,” Ochocinco said with a sigh after a long pause. “It’s been practice.”