The Odd Couple

"Chad Ochocinco & Bill Belichick in a former life!"

In the early to mid 1970's there was a show on television called the Odd Couple that was about two divorced men living together that were great friends but had complete opposite personalities. Felix Unger was a neat freak and Oscar Madison was a sloppy casual. The fact that they were so different raised our curiosity as to whether these guys were going to get along or flat out kill each other and that dynamic made the show an unbelievable success.

Well… on Thursday the show was resurrected from the cutting room floor when the New England Patriots acquired Chad Ochocinco from the Cincinnati Bengals after he accepted a restructured three-year contract, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. The Bengals will receive two draft picks, a 2012 fifth-rounder and a 2013 sixth-rounder in exchange for Chad.

I know that the fans were scratching their heads after seeing this move by the Patriots. However, the two have a great relationship that developed at the Pro Bowl several years ago, and prior to a preseason game two seasons ago, microphones caught the two exchanging some good-natured ribbing.

 "It became a relationship beyond a football player and coach," Ochocinco said last September before the Bengals faced the Patriots. "He became a friend of mine. He's one that I look up to tremendously. One who I've never played for but who I share the same respect for as if he was my own head coach."

Belichick returned the compliment by saying, "It's an odd couple," Belichick said at the time, drawing some laughter from media members. "But in the end, I think we have a lot of things in common. I like Chad. I like him as a player, I like him as a person. I like his enthusiasm and the fun he has in football, and how he competes on the football field."

The serious coach and the flamboyant wide receiver! It should be, if nothing else, good TV. Belichick always serious before, during and after games and Chad clowning around before, during and after games. This should be good. Even though they are good friends they haven't had to share the same space for real. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game that doesn’t count and it’s in paradise on the island of Hawaii and now they’ll be together everyday in Boston. Great reality check!

It's like getting your homeboy to be your college roommate. You've known the guy all of your life but you didn't know that he didn't pick up his underwear and two weeks in you’re ready to choke him out.

"This guy & Belichick on the sidelines?"

If nothing else I'm looking forward to the side show! However, I believe it’s going to be a great addition to the Patriot family. What so many people don't understand about Ochocinco is that the guy shows up to work daily and is diligent in his work ethic. He's not the typical loud mouth that's all about himself and not the team. He loves the game and has figured out how to get his attention after he's been successful.


I love his touchdown celebrations and the way he marks down the opposing corners on a sheet of paper prior to the match up. It's all about the game for him. I respect the way he plays. Trash talking and calling guys out has been part of the culture of the game since guys started playing in vacant lots in the hood.

Chad gets negative press from writers that just don't understand the culture of growing up in the hood playing ball. You learned at an early age that if you keep the guy out of the end zone then he can't dance. Therefore, nobody is offended when he starts dancing and I believe that he'll do a lot of it with Tom Brady tossing him the rock.

The Patriots are one the best run franchises in the league so I think that they've got this thing under control but the side show will be entertaining to watch. I just hope Ochocinco picks up his underwear before Belichick steps on them. I’d love to see that press conference.

Holla At Ya Boy
Jay Graves
Twitter:@jaygravesreport
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.