Chad Ochocinco's career in the NFL is set to continue after he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins just days after being released by the New England Patriots.
The 34-year-old had an almost anonymous season last year with the Patriots despite them making the Super Bowl - catching just 15 passes as he failed to click with Tom Brady.
Despite the obvious baggage that accompanies one of the more charismatic players in the league, the Dolphins have decided to take a look at the former six-time Pro Bowler.
Selected by Cincinnati out of the 2001 draft, Ochocino has 766 receptions for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns in 166 career games, and if anything like his best would be a big step up in class from the rest of the Miami roster.
The Dolphins traded star wideout Brandon Marshall in March, leaving them with just Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Legedu Naanee in a low-profile receiving corps.
Coach Joe Philbin has acknowledged that none of the receiving options have stepped up in pre-season training and that will have been in the team's thinking when they signed Ochocinco.
"You would like to have some players make it easy and distinguish themselves, maybe make the picture a little bit clearer," Philbin said. "We have to catch the ball more consistently at every position on offense, because it is not quite where it needs to be."
Part of the Marshall trade was his off-field issues though, and they will hope Ochocinco is as relatively quiet as he was off the field in New England, although on the field they would like him to be much more noticeable.
With a contract that should be highly incentivised though, it may not be as big a risk as some people thing in taking him on, with him now having a real point to prove.
A Miami native who attended Miami Beach High School, Ochocinco will also be keen to star for his home town team - especially in the two games he will play against former employers New England.
