From Shawn Mitchell's Crew Xtra Blog : "Bengals receiver Chad OchoCinco says he's switching to soccer. 'I'll be trying out soon, what do I need to do,' he wrote in a Twitter message to the Crew today. Child, please!." Chad first made mention of his hopes to play in MLS to Kyle Martino on FSC's Soccer Talk Live. I'd love for this guy to try out. What could it hurt? He is a great athlete, played and loves soccer, and with the expanded rosters next year, why not? At a minimum it would be free exposure and could help usher in an era where the USA's best athletes decide to stick with soccer, unlike when the then-Chad Johnson chose football over soccer in high school. Plus, the jersey sales would be through the roof!
http://www.sportpost.com/video/view/Chad+Ochocinco+Sombrero+Touchdown+Celebration Sort of a spin off of Frankie dancing in the Nordecke a few seasons back when he was out on the red card suspension....
I say everybody tweet Chad Ochocinco @OGOChoCinco and tell them we'd love to have him. Can you imagine teams trying to catch him and Ekpo. And than try to knock him and Renteria off the ball? Plus all the airplay we'll get on ESPN lol
NFL Lockout He is the type of person who would spend a season playing another sport if the NFL does not have a season next year.
This. I would love to see an American soccer player with an ego that could easily surpass that of Ronaldo.
Being from cincy I have always been a Chad fan, and Chad has honestly always been an ambassador for soccer in america. I was trying last year to get a hold of him and try to talk him into coming to a Crew game. I know he would, he loves his fans and is alway around cincinnati hanging out and socializing with anyone willing. He would love being and Nordecke and playing drums with La Turbina
It's Chad's latest PR stunt. Do we really need his ego and huge mouth in the locker room? Don't get me wrong, he's a good football player WHEN he focuses on the game and not on his antics. Honestly, if this thing is remotely true, he's a risk we can't afford to take. And just because "he's a fan of the game and an ambassador to soccer" doesn't automatically mean he's a good player.
I think he should get a tryout, Why not it would get tremendous amounts of press good and bad. There is nothing saying that he would make the team.
I say give him the tryout, hype it up like mad, have him hang out with the team for a while so he can get to know the guys. Then, before he gets cut, get him into the Nordecke and make a huge deal over it, turn him into a big fan of the team and beg him to buy a minority share in the Crew. We've been asking for help from HSG for so long to promote the team better, there's no one better at promotion than 85.
I think this is a great idea. All the talking heads on radio crack on soccer, often stating how the sport gets the athletes that aren't good enough for football. I'd love to see how 85 would do in a closed tryout.
IF there is a lockout which is a HUGE if. NFL is, as of right now, by far this countries number one pro sport. I don't think anyone will risk losing some of that by letting the lockout happen. This is just a game of chicken that each side won't budge because there is so much time left. Once it gets close they will get it done. So assuming they don't: Chad still doesnt ever play in MLS or any other pro sport. Practice just for some press? Maybe. Yes it would be cool to have him and to get one of our best athletes in soccer especailly for the team we love. The people saying would you really want.....YES. All the press that would get if it would happen would actually make it so a few people might pay attention to MLS. There might even be a reporter or two at a game that isn't from Columbus or Ohio. It would make national press and he would bring attention both of which is very good. I'm a Browns fan and I have never understood the people who say he's only good when he's trying and not doing his antics on the field. Aren't his "antics" and "celebrations" usually after scoring? That seems like to me there are only antics on the field when he is playing good. All in all this is a different age then when Prime Time and Bo were manning two sports and getting flown around. Teams do not let their players risk injury or they go after the contract and take money back. Ricky Williams (al be it drugs), Aaron Boone, Pavano, Winslow are all examples of this. If Chad Johnson (I will never call him Chad EightFive haha), entered a pro sport I think it would be instacut for him. Especially at this point in his career and also at this point in his career I don't think he could risk the injury or risk that another NFL team would be willing to take on an aging (by NFL standards) WR who isn't 100% devoted to one sport. To me chance of him ever actually trying this is less then 1%.
Call MM and give him the plan, make this happen Christ, the free pub the Crew could get from this can't have a number put on it...
While we're at it let's take this to its logical conclusion: Chad loves playing soccer, leave the NFL after the lockout in resolved. BB brings 85 into camp and later into WCQs. A Chad-led USMNT loses the semi-final game in Brazil. America explodes - everyone switches to soccer and 2014 is the last year we don't win the cup.
QFT. There is more marketing right there than the entire staff creates in an entire year. My background is a Browns fan and hater of diva WRs. However, Chad does more than talk game. He takes his off the field stuff serious. He attended the superbowl media day as a reporter for his own news network. I would love to see him try out for Crew. With expanded rosters next year, and knowing the guy probably isn't doing it for the money, we could easily find room for him. Heck, if speed guys like Dane Richards have a spot in this league, surely Chad has a place. If MM doesn't invite him for a tryout after this NFL season, he needs his head checked. Crew are natural being so close to Cincy anyway.