Chad Ochocinco: Has Evelyn Lozada Ruined the Bengals Football Career?

Chad Ochocinco just isn't there this season. He may show up for every game but his production is down and I have to wonder why. 

The man is obviously distracted and it's taking a toll on the Bengals season. Their offense was supposed to feature two standout All-Pro receivers. So far, only one has showed up to the party.

Having a girl such as Evelyn Lozada is bound to do something to your concentration. 

As we all know, it is not as cut and dry as that. Here I will break down factors for Ochocinco's dismal 2010 season. Half will be attributed to the sultry succubus and the other half will be other reasons that could be at work. 

5. Evelyn Lozada: Nude Pictures

In April of this year, Evelyn Lozada was caught sending nude messages with her phone. Now everyone with an Internet connection has seen her in the buff. This would include the entire locker room of the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Knowing that your woman has been the subject of lewd comments from your teammates could make any man crazy. This is just speculation but I know it would ruin my day. 

5: Other Factor: Television

Chad Ochocinco may simply be spreading himself too thin. He has been on Dancing with the Stars, has been the subject of his own reality show Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch, and will have a new show with teammate Terrell Owens,The T.Ocho Show. 

You have to wonder where there is any time for football. 

4: Evelyn Lozada: Antoine Walker

Evelyn Lozada is the ex-fiancee of former NBA player Antoine Walker. Rumor has it that Walker was terrible to Lozada. But I am looking at his career here. 

Walker was going to be the franchise player for the Celtics along with Paul Pierce. For a few years he was a constant threat from the three point land. Then he sort of just got fat and stopped trying. Next thing you know he is bankrupt with no woman by his side. 

This is the classic chicken and egg scenario. Walker didn't start to stink up the joint until 2005, five years into their relationship. We will never know what happened behind close doors. It is possible she brings the funk out of men. 

4. Other Factor: Age

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 14: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals reaches for a pass during the Bengals 23-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/

Watching the Bengals this year, it is clear that Chad has lost a step. He doesn't seem to be getting that explosive jump on defensive backs that he used to. 

Chad is 32 and has been in the league 10 years now. One can expect for a player's production to take a dive right about now. But the dip in receptions and touchdowns on the year are unacceptable. 

3. Evelyn Lozada: The Rihanna Factor

Perhaps, Lozada is one sultry siren that has drained our poor Ochocinco. I like to refer to this as the Rihanna factor. 

Rihanna was dating the Dodgers Matt Kemp to start the season this year. Kemp immediately forgot how to play baseball. He had fielding errors, base running gaffes, and couldn't hit nearly as well as the season before. They eventually broke up and Kemp went back to the form he was in for 2009. 

If you have seen the movie The Natural, you know, your choice in woman dictates how well you perform. That's just science people. 

3. Other Factor: Frustration

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals fails to pull in this reception against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It is clear that the whole of the Bengals team, especially Chad, are frustrated. It is an obvious fact that we as humans perform worse while frustrated.

The star wide receiver is pressing and that leads to bad decisions. His routes are not run as crisply. Some of the catches he would bring down are fumbled to the ground. Chad would do well to take a deep breath and concentrate on just playing football.

If the Bengals can get a string of wins in this late part of the season, it may help to quell any nerves.  

2. Evelyn Lozada: Basketball Wives

Evelyn Lozada stars in the VH-1 series Basketball Wives. It has caused quite a stir among athletes whose significant others are featured. 

The problem is, you have your better half on national television airing dirty laundry. If that weren't enough, their characters are blown out of proportion. What you get is a caricature of the real person. Imagine having your wife or girlfriend putting your problems on TV then rolling into the office in the morning. 

It is enough to make any man scream. 

2. Other Factors: Carson Palmer

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 14: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the Bengals 23-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 23-17. (Photo

It is clear that Carson Palmer is not right. He has 13 interceptions on the year. At this rate he will surpass his career high of 20 that he set in 2007. 

As a wide receiver, you depend on someone else to get you the ball. It is unlike any other position in sports. You can be the best wide out in the world, but it means nothing if you don't get the ball delivered in your vicinity. 

1. Evelyn Lozada: Impending Marriage

News surfaced yesterday that Chad Ochocinco is set to marry Evelyn Lozada. That is a big decision, even for a football player/reality star like Chad Ochocinco. 

But going into marriage is a weighty subject. No man treads that ground lightly. You need to make sure the girl is the one. Then you have to make sure you don't mess up buying the ring. It's exhausting. Why he didn't wait until after the season is beyond me. 

Well, what do I care, he isn't on my fantasy team. Congratulations!

1. Other Factor: Terrell Owens

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It seems that gaining Terrell Owens was a blessing to some. That list does not include Chad Ochocinco. 

Owens has been the go-to guy in the Bengals offense. He has about 300 more yards receiving than Chad and more than double his touchdowns. We all thought that gaining Owens would be a catalyst for the Bengals and Ochocinco. It was supposed to open up the field and make him more available. 

What we failed to realize is that there are only so many attempts to be had in the course of a game. When you have an undeserving QB, there is not enough to go around. So instead of more catches and opportunities, there is the same, and most of them are going to Owens. 

Conclusion

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The main reason for Ochocinco's lackluster season is Ochocinco himself. 

Evelyn Lozada may or may not present a negative impact on his production but that is Chad's deal. He is a big boy and he can deal with it. 

I do think that he is the victim of shoddy play from his QB and an overabundance of passes going Owens way. But this is not the last stand for the receiver. He still has plenty of highlights and great games left in him yet.