Well, it was nice while it lasted. As suddenly as a dropped pass, Miami’s Chad Ochocinco is back to being a chatter box. The one-time top flight receiver claims he has another six years left in him in the NFL, although he has not been a factor as a receiver in the last three seasons.
“I’m going to play ’til I’m 40 years old, and this year I’m going to show the world I can,” the 34-year-old Ochocinco told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper.
And just think: HBO’s Hard Knocks crew has not event gotten to town yet for training camp.
“There is physically nothing wrong with me. I want to race Clyde (Gates) right now. I’ve asked him,” Ochocinco said, referring to Gates, whose 4.31 40-yard dash time made him the fastest receiver in the 2011 NFL draft. “I’ve still got it. I’m a lot smarter and I’m still fast.”
Ochocinco’s declaration comes less than a month after he was cut by the New England Patriots.
A Miami native, he made the Pro Bowl six times, most recently in 2009. He had only a minor role in his lone season with the Patriots, catching 15 passes for 276 yards.
“I ate every bit of that humble pie,” Ochocinco said. “I believe it made me a better man, a better player.
“The Dolphins are the right team, the right offense. I’m at the good place in my life. Everything fits perfectly for me.”
In his career, Ochocinco has caught 766 passes for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns. All of the Dolphins’ returning receivers have less than a dozen career TDs.
