New England Patriots Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco Is Just a Practice Player

How putrid has Chad Ochocinco been this season? 

Entering New England's bye week, No. 85 has managed to only reel in nine passes for 136 yards and no touchdown receptions—he clearly is not the same wide receiver that he was back in his glory days with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Early this week, New England Patriots' personnel chief, Nick Caserio, spoke with the media and practically summed up Ochocinco's miserable season with a brilliant line: 

"

"We're happy with what Chad's done for us. He's probably one of our best practice players."

"

Practice players? So now what? The four-time All-Pro wide receiver is a mere scout team All-Star? This could not be anymore pathetic. 

Ochocinco has literally been invisible—he's like Casper, he's gone, you can't see him—he's never on the field. Thus far this season, Ochocinco has played a grand total of 152 offensive snaps out of a possible 447 snaps.

How awful is that? That's 34 percent—and his time of the field is beginning to be even more limited: This past week against the Dallas Cowboys, Ochocinco played only seven out of a possible 77 plays while the week before against the New York Jets, he played 32 out of 81. 

Ultimately, Ochocinco is about as useful as Jermaine Cunningham or Atwaun Molden—two players that never see the field and have zero contributions this season. 

More and more, New England is rolling out with two wide receivers, two tight ends and one running back sets—guess who's on the field then: Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. No No. 85. 

Will Ochocinco ever get it going in New England? I hate to be so opinionated, but I don't see it happening at all—so we all need to stop beating a dead horse. 

Ochocinco either is unable to get a strong grasp of New England's offense or he's simply old and his skills are diminishing at the age of 33. 

As I conclude, let me ask what you think: Do you really think that a mere practice player is worth a three-year contract worth $11.5 million? No shot in hell. 

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