Miami Dolphins: How Chad Ochocinco Can Lead Team in 2012

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The Miami Dolphins are looking to establish a new identity for the 2012 NFL season.

Chad Ochocinco may be of some assistance.

The veteran wide receiver is well-known for his antics both on and off the field.

From the Ochocinco News Network to his passionate obsession with Twitter, the man is a media mogul who also happens to know a thing or two about football.

The young, new look Dolphins squad is going to need to find some form of leadership both in the locker room and on the playing field before the start of next season.

Here's a few reasons why Chad Ochocinco is going to be the guy to provide it.

HBO's Hard Knocks: Round 2

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Ochocinco is no stranger to HBO's hit series "Hard Knocks", as we all likely remember his first appearance back with the Bengals in 2009.

He has some personality to say the least, and the Dolphins could certainly use a flashier player like himself to steal some of the behind the scenes spotlight.

We can count on him to promote the show heavily as well, with over 3.5 million followers on Twitter at his disposal.

He is the perfect candidate to help relieve some of the pressure from the camera shy younger players, considering Chad is quite the attention seeker after all.

Unproven Receiving Corps

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Brian Hartline and Davone Bess have never made it to a Pro Bowl.

They've caught a total of 16 touchdown passes in their combined seven years of play and neither receiver has ever reeled in more than 1,000 yards in a single season.

To Ochocinco, that's all in a day's work.

In his past seven seasons, he's brought in over 1,000 yards on four separate occasions and has found the end zone a total of 42 different times.

That's including his lackluster 15 reception year with New England in 2011-12.

After the departure of Brandon Marshall this spring, the remaining young Dolphins receivers entered training camp lacking a true No. 1 talent.

That is, until Chad Ochocinco came along.

Believe it or not, this high-profile veteran can and will be a figurehead for the team as they enter a new season with new hope in 2012-13.

Return to Reality

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All it takes is one humbling season to really put things in perspective for a star athlete.

In the blink of an eye, even your most loyal supporters will throw you under the bus and discredit all that you've accomplished over the years.

Ochocinco has everything to prove and absolutely nothing left to lose.

After an epic fail of an effort in New England last season, he realizes that this may very well be his last chance to make a major NFL comeback.

I'm a firm believer in second chances, and Ochocinco is going to capitalize on his as he attempts to bring back the Chad of old and lead the Miami Dolphins to a playoff berth.