In an interview with the Boston Herald [1], Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco said that former NFL receiving stars Randy Moss and Terrell Owens offered a sort of support group for Ochocinco as he dealt with the challenges of a transition from Cincinnati to New England. From the Herald's article:
Two of the game’s greatest all-time receivers have quietly served as a support group for Ochocinco, calling him almost daily, encouraging him, keeping his head up as he’s struggled with the offense.
“For me, those guys were my outlets. Not Twitter,” Ochocinco said. “To have those two guys in my corner, I talk to them all the time. (Moss) keeps me sane for 16 weeks, every week. Every week we talked. T.O., too. We’re close-knit, us so-called diva receivers. Who is going to understand what I’m talking about, or going through, from my standpoint? Not Bill, not Tom. It’s like having my own personal support group. I love those two, man. I didn’t want to burden anyone else in here with that bull. They don’t want to hear that.”
Ochocinco also told the Herald that he was on the inactive list for the AFC championship game because he was late returning to New England after attending his father's funeral one day before the contest. The receiver missed a pregame meeting, resulting in his being among the week's inactives.
“My dad died. I didn’t get back in time,” he said. “I wasn’t even close to getting back in time.”
For more Patriots coverage, visit weei.com/patriots [2].
Links:
[1] http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view/20220128few_grabs_no_regrets_ocho_reflects_on_humbling_year/
[2] http://www.weei.com/patriots
[3] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/patriots