Chad Ochocinco Released by Patriots Due to Struggles with the Playbook

By David Salazar (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jun 08, 2012 08:16 AM EDT

On Thursday, the New England Patriots announced that the team has released receiver Chad Ochocinco after only 10 months.

According to the Boston Tribune, the organizaiton cut ties with Ochocinco not because of his physical fitness, which is supposedly great, but because he struggled with the playbook and was not on in sync with superstar quarterback Tom Brady.

According to the Boston Globe, Ochocinco was absent from the on-field portion of organized team activities. Ochocinco reported to Gillette Stadium Thursday around 7 a.m. but left a short time later.
Ochocino, a prolific user of Twitter, took the site and acknowled his tanks to the organization before throwing in some humor and changing his bio from “New England Patriots WR’’ to “UNEMPLOYED BLACK GUY.’’

Ochocinco, 34, had agreed to restructure his contract by dropping it from a base of $3 million to the minimum for his level of NFL service time to $925,000 per year. However, according to the Boston Tribune, his chances of cracking the lineup were slim.

The Patriots acquired Ochocinco from the Bengals at the start of training camp last season for a fifth-round pick in the 2011 entry draft and sixth-rounder in the 2012 draft. The Globe reported that Ochocinco and Bengals QB Carson Palmer were not always on the same page, but since they had played together for so long, the Palmer could anticpate Ochocino’s moves. In New England, the routes have names and are not numbered and precision is required. Ochocino was simply not able to adapt.

According to ESPN, New England tried to trade the Ochocinco but released him when there were no takers.

Ochocino was a fan favorite but never lived up to expectations on the field in his only season in Boston. He received $5.75 million in salary and bonuses, but only managed 15 catches for 276 yards and one touchdown.

Since Ochocinco, a veteran of 11 season, has played in the league for so long, the wide receiver will not have to go through waivers, and is immediately a free agent.