Ochocinco: The Kicker

Talk about reinvention. Chad Ochocinco (formerly Chad Johnson, until he recently changed his name to match his number… except that it really doesn’t because his number is “85″ not “8″ and “5,” but whatever….) is truly the king of changing things up. Just when you think it’s business as usual for him, he will fool you.

I actually really like that about him.

The latest surprise is that Ochocinco can kick, y’all! He acted as emergency kicker in the Bengals preseason game against the Patriots last night. And he was successful.

Ochocinco has actually played soccer. He said, ” Soccer’s my first love, Kicking’s easy … like riding a bike,” he said. “I can kick them from 50, 60 yards, left or right hash mark. … I kicked all through high school.”

He’s practiced kicking but has never actually done it live in a game, preseason or otherwise. But Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis was in a bind, with kicker Shayne Graham’s groin injury.

Will Ochocinco be the new kicker for the Bengals? I would bet not. Still, you should keep your eye on him. You never know what might come next!

Image: Zuma Press