Why A.J. Green is the WR Ochocinco Never Could Be for Bengals

You would be forgiven for thinking that Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are the only two guys on the Bengals roster judging by how the football media has been praising what is now being referred to simply as "Dalton to Green." But in a year where surprises and bright sparks are emerging in almost every roster spot, Green might just be the most exciting one of the lot.

While Green is having a solid rookie season, part of the reason why he is receiving such a positive reception is thanks to one man: Chad Ochocinco.

Comparison is key here, and with Green playing well while Ochocinco sits on the sidelines in New England, the gap continues to widen and Green continues to benefit. Not only that, but Green has benefited from a locker room sentiment that has done away with egos, media attention and the rest, and has had bona fide results by doing so.

I have to admit to being incredibly disappointed with how Ochocinco has fared in New England. He has all the skills, but his failure to pick up the Patriots offense is a reflection of too many years of doing "just enough" to stay ahead of the competition, and relying on sporadic big plays to stay relevant.

With only seven games played in his rookie campaign, Green has made Bengals fans forget about Ochocinco fairly quickly. With 33 receptions and five touchdowns under his belt, Green has already surpassed Ochocinco's 2010 TD numbers and is on pace to catch at least 10.

It would be unfair to suggest that Ochocinco should be expected to put up big numbers in his current position, and before we crown Green as the Bengals "best receiver ever," we should remember that Ochocinco put together some fine years between 2003 and 2005 and again in 2009. Unfortunately, his inability to stay consistent may be what separates the two.

The tiebreaker has to come somewhere though, and this is how I see it. Ochocinco's time in Cincinnati came on a team that arguably had all of the tools to succeed, and while it's unfair to pin the blame on No. 85, he certainly didn't perform to the team's talent level on a consistent enough basis, and the same goes for the likes of Carson Palmer.

However, Green was drafted by a team that the consensus suggested were the 32nd-best in the NFL—a team that currently finds itself in the top 10 in numerous power rankings. Green could have come into Cincinnati and bemoaned being on a weak side, but instead he has absorbed the "all in" attitude permeating the locker room, and it is certainly paying dividends.

It may be too early to start worshipping the new No.1 receiver in town, but there is no doubt Green symbolises a more optimistic future and new beginnings for this franchise, whereas our once beloved Ochocinco has come to symbolise everything that was wrong with the previous generation, whether that is fair or not.