It's been a rough season for the Cincinnati Bengals and for their outspoken receiver, Chad Ochocinco, in particular. After a loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football, the team is the AFC North cellar dweller at 2-6, and Ochocinco is on pace for one of the least productive seasons of his illustrious career. It probably doesn't help that his friend and fellow drama queen receiver Terrell Owens is tearing it up on the opposite side of the field.
Through eight games, Owens has already matched the number of receptions he caught during his 2009 campaign with the Buffalo Bills (55) and is on pace to finish with well over 1,500 yards - an absolutely absurd benchmark for a soon-to-be-37-year-old wideout. He's also been the most targeted receiver in the NFL.
Ochocinco attributes the disparity to persistent double-coverage:
"They double me every week ... It's not flattering, because they do the same thing every week. It doesn't become flattering, it becomes frustrating. You have to put yourself in my shoes. To go week in and week out, to take 85 away and not do anything. It's not a compliment, not after Week 9."
That's weird. I thought teams were doubling Ochocinco to take him out of the game, but apparently all that added help from opposing safeties was a misplaced attempt to flatter him. Sorry for hurting your feelings, Chad. I can only guess that in your world, Ray Lewis was just trying to hug you on this play:
Not cool, Ray.
Ochocinco was visibly upset in last night's loss and had to at one point be pulled from the game by head coach Marvin Lewis. He finished with just one catch for 15 yards.