Technically, we're not talking about the goofy grass so prevalent in the all-time great Dazed And Confused -- Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck's best roles. Nor are we really talking about the slow death of Cincinnati grass during the rain-less summer months. We had to make a slight disclaimer because some readers that peruse these posts tend to take such a reaction that's embarrassingly juvenile. That being said, Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco claimed that he "would love" to return to Cincinnati earlier this week. On Thursday he shied away from the love on The 2 Live Stews on 790 The Zone in Atlanta, saying he doesn't really care where he plays.
As far as going back to the Bengals it doesn’t matter where I am at. People can say whatever they want. Wherever I am I’m going to make it happen. They always say ‘the grass ain’t green on the other side.’ My damn grass has been brown for a long time."
Nice play on words, Chad. Though we really can't blame his roller coaster approach. On one hand, the receiver has repeatedly stated his desire for a championship before the end of his career. On the the other hand, he's completely under Mike Brown's thumb. And if the owner doesn't release him, Chad stays. The wide receiver also spoke about Carson Palmer, the lockout, Terrelle Pryor and his relationship with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. On Carson Palmer:
"I haven’t talked to him, but he’s not playing. He’s not playing. When someone goes out of character like that, especially a white guy with red hair that grows a random beard? When he says he’s going to do something he’s going to do it. He’s not playing."
What's interesting is Chad's response to Lewis when asked if the relationship between he and the head coach is repairable.
"I don’t know. Hopefully Marvin is doing this maybe to help me out. Maybe he is trying to cause some friction between himself and me. Maybe he doesn’t like me for real. He doesn’t like me well I don’t like him either. Maybe he’s doing this to help the situation out. Maybe he’s trying to do this to show Mike Brown I don’t think I can coincide with Chad, but dammit I can’t coincide with him either and if he really feels that way when I see him I’m going to whoop his ass."
Lewis, who has largely played an antagonist role against Chad, praised the wide receiver earlier this month.
"Chad’s been an excellent player to work with. He works. He competes. He loves to hear his name called and if they have a camera he is going to talk. That’s part of it, but doing the things he need to do and that’s practicing and playing and preparing. He does a good job with that. If you score touchdown you get to talk and that’s what he’s paid to do score touchdowns."