Admittedly, I've been debating it. I'm not sure if we should do it. There are issues that I'm hard-headed about. I won't change my position because I feel like I abandon my convictions. That's not to say I won't change my mind about things when receiving new information. Being open minded is a critical attribute towards progressive (not meaning liberal) thinking. But on this one, I just can't make up my mind. Should I, or shouldn't I?

So maybe you can help me, or us. Dating back to last year, I've refused to call him Chad Ochocinco. It was a gimmick; it's still a gimmick. Why would we call him by a gimmick name rather than his known name? It doesn't matter what his legal name is. Marvin Lewis said he changed it for the wrong reasons. While I'm not sure what he means by that, I agree with his conclusion. It was, and still is, a gimmick.

I realize also that I'm being hard-headed about changing. Aside from this piece, I haven't called him Chad Ochocinco. Not sure if I will beyond this piece. Should we adapt to a money-making scheme, which is the biggest reason we think he changed his name? I won't criticize a man how he makes a living, legally. I understand. I do put in perspective about how a desire for money harms others. But those are separate issues related to separate specifics. Johnson's name change isn't harming anyone; save for the possible distractions, but that's not really harming anything that's critical to lives.

What do you guys think? Should we adapt his new last name? Should we keep the status quo?

While you think of that, know that one thing is that Chad Johnson (back to basics brother) is talking again. No, not like that. Not like last offseason. He's proving that he's still alive. And like Chris Henry (but much different), Chad Johnson is realizing the mistakes he's made harmed both himself, and the team he plays for.

“I’m not even going to lie to you, I’m going to say it. Last year the offseason I didn’t lift one weight, I didn’t run one route, I didn’t exercise. I didn’t do nothing because my focus was on getting out of the situation I didn’t want to be in,” Ochocinco said. “The result of my season whether we as a team did bad or not that’s what I get. I get hurt in the preseason. If I had been on my right regiment, I guarantee you my collarbone, the shoulder wouldn’t pop out of place. The ankle surgery.”

He spoke to the NFL Network again on Friday.