Ochocinco: 'I'm still smiling' By MIKE RUTSEY, QMI Agency

New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has a catch with quarterback Tom Brady on the sideline during the second half of their NFL football game against the New York Giants in Foxborough, Massachusetts Sept. 1, 2011. (REUTERS/Adam Hunger)

Chad Ochocinco has seen better years.

Better days? That’s the question.

The former flamboyant wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals had his feathers clipped this season after moving over to the New England Patriots in a trade.

Upon his arrival the thinking was that Ochocinco could provide a deep threat, stretch the field like a young Deion Branch used to do.

It just never turned out that way. In 15 regular season games, Ochocinco made all of 15 receptions, just one of them for a touchdown.

Instead of being a premier receiver, he was an afterthought. Surprisingly, he took the demotion as well as could be expected, continued to work hard in practice, never bitched and along the way earned the respect of his teammates.

“Chad has worked hard every day,” quarterback Tom Brady said of his new teammate on Wednesday. “I’ve really loved having Chad on this team and being able to play with him. I met him a while ago at my second Pro Bowl. His still has that childlike quality in terms of his enthusiasm for the game and practice and competition.

“I was excited to get him this year. I wished that he would have had a bigger role on this team. We’ve just had other guys who have played more snaps with Deion, Wes (Welker), Rob (Gronkowski) and Aaron (Hernandez), who are obviously so hard to take off of the field. Chad’s done a great job. He comes to work every day and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. I think he’s enjoying this experience this week, too. To play in this game for the first time, he’s been telling me how excited he is. I’m excited for him.”

With the status of Gronkowski still in doubt (due to a high ankle sprain) Ochocinco could be called upon to play a more prominent role in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the New York Giants. But if not, so be it. Ochocinco isn’t planning on throwing any pity party.

“This playoff run, this Super Bowl is very meaningful,” he said. “Many would say it didn’t go the way I would like it, not up to my expectations. Everybody can see that, but I don’t think this season negates a career of what I consider greatness, worth of fun. To get to this point quietly, most people call it bittersweet, but it’s a blessing.

“People will play this game for years, for years and many names, many greats without having a chance to sniff the Super Bowl. To be able to be here, regardless of how this season went is a blessing, period. Especially where I’ve come from, what I’ve been through. To get to this, not just this stage, but the NFL in general. I’m happy, it could be my last one. There’s no reason to hang my head, there’s no reason to be upset. It is what it is and I’m still smiling. I’ve been smiling all year.”

And along the way he gained perspective and maturity.