Chad Ochocinco Name Change: Patriots Receiver Plans To Go Back To 'Johnson'

We may be reaching the end of an era as TMZ is reporting that Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is planning to change his last name once again.

Per the report, Ochocinco wants to change his name back to 'Johnson' so that his fiancee Evelyn Lozada won't have to take on his self-made last name when the couple ties the knot this summer.

The former Cincinnati Bengal legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco in August 2008 in honor of his jersey number. "It's something I don't think anyone has ever done before," he said at the time. "Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do? I'm having fun."

But Ochocinco's persona has evolved since that time. No longer a brash, outspoken media figure who ranked among the league leaders in most receiving categories, Ocho is currently a lightly-used reserve player who caught just 15 passes for the Patriots this season, by far the lowest output of his career.

In addition, Ochocinco also lost his title of having the most outrageous self-imposed name in sports to the Lakers' forward formerly known as Ron Artest. He is now legally known as Metta World Peace. If this is truly the end of the Ochocinco era, we'll miss the memories and we're sad to wish one of the greatest names in sports history a fond adios.

Comments

[ohiomark]

10:22 PM on 02/13/2012

Another "look at me" athlete who people got tired of looking at.

[Roshi98]

01:02 PM on 02/13/2012

He should change his name to "Choke-o-cinqo". The man couldn't catch a clutch pass if it were dropped into his hands by a guardian angel. One of the most overrated, overhyped receivers in NFL history.

[Quotidien]

11:03 AM on 02/13/2012

Attention-hungry receivers aren't in vogue anymore.

Andre/Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald are low-key and highly productive.

[Pod-gers]

06:16 PM on 02/12/2012

I hope he gets to work out with he pats in off season, pre season. and play another season.

I wouldn't mind picking up hines Ward, either.

And, while I am at it, why do we have a #1 quarterback, and no #1 wideouts?

[Quotidien]

11:01 AM on 02/13/2012

Ward is cooked meat. Thanks for the memories.

They should have brought Randy Moss back.

[enigma3535]

03:20 PM on 02/12/2012

What was Bill thinking ... I recall viewing an analyst's breakdown of Chad in Cincy in the later stages of the 2010 season, where his performance was being measured against Palmer's other receiver options ... Chad was pretty much abysmal compared to his past level of performance ... in the last 8 games, Chad had 31 receptions for 407 yds and 2 TDs ... that's 3.9 receptions, 50.9 yds and 0.25 TDs per game.

How is that level of productivity worth $2.8m of one's available salary cap?

2011 stats: 15 games, 15 receptions, 276 yds and 1 TD.

There has been a lot of talk regarding Chad not getting the playbook in New England ... IMHO, that is nonsense ... he lost a step in 2010 and another in 2011.

[gremlin1]

06:02 AM on 02/12/2012

Good! Now I won't have to keep trying to convince my students that 85 is ochenta y cinco, NOT ochocinco.

[Quotidien]

11:03 AM on 02/13/2012

Que bueno

[stjoshy]

10:05 PM on 02/11/2012

my vote is for chad o-no-i-dropped-it-again
or chad pu$ywhipped-cinco.
...discuss this amongst yourselves

[Steelerfanman]

07:31 PM on 02/11/2012

Chad Washedupahole

[Daniel Velasquez]

06:13 PM on 02/11/2012

I didn't even read this, just wanted to say good idea cause that's one stupid name.

[Quotidien]

11:05 AM on 02/13/2012

Most people don't read the over-abbreviated (stolen) blurb...they jump right into giving opinions.

[Daniel Velasquez]

01:05 PM on 02/13/2012

i do that if it's something not that interesting.

[kaysquare]

05:59 PM on 02/11/2012

He's decided changhing his name to "Ochocinco" wasn't such a good idea afterall....what a surprise!

[ApolloniaBliss]

05:53 PM on 02/11/2012

Whatever

[KEVIN VACIRCA]

05:44 PM on 02/11/2012

should go by his god-given name AS@HOLE

[Mr Anonymous]

09:47 PM on 02/11/2012

Technically it was given by his parents, not god.

[Quotidien]

11:05 AM on 02/13/2012

parents who got it from the plantation owner.

[Autora]

05:29 PM on 02/11/2012

I know almost nothing about sports, and definitely nothing about this athlete, but as a Spanish speaker I wondered why someone would a) have the name Eight Five, and b) want to change it to something like 'Johnson.' Now I get it! I think he's sweet, trying to make his name easier for his fiance-- and why shouldn't he have had fun when he wanted to? As another commenter said, there's a long tradition of changing names in sports, and Muhammed Ali is sure easy to remember.

[bmitche]

04:32 PM on 02/11/2012

He certainly gets my nod of approval.

[SnapShot11258]

04:24 PM on 02/11/2012

And TO just changed his to TZERO...ZERO OFFERS, ZERO CLASS, ZERO DOLLARS... guess folks do get what they deserve.