Chad Johnson is returning to a football field probably not near you this year.
The former Cincinnati Bengals great is signing with the Motreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League:
Here's @ochocinco signing his contract: pic.twitter.com/PcNQ46sYFu
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 17, 2014
Johnson was out of football in 2012 and 2013. He spent last year working as an analyst for CBS' online fantasy football show along with Pete Prisco. The 36-year-old Johnson participated in the Alouettes’ minicamp in Vero Beach, Florida before officially joining the CFL team.
In that camp camp, Johnson drew positive reviews from Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins, who told the Winnepeg Sun of Johnson: "You couldn't tell if he's 28 or 36."
"He's definitely taken the second step," he said. "It's not about money. It's about the opportunity to get back on the field and compete. It seems like he's bonding well. He knows quite a few players.
"He’s fitting in and he’s competing. So far, so good."
Johnson spent more than a decade in the NFL, nearly reaching All-Pro status with the Bengals from 2001-2010, where he had 751 receptions for 10,783 yards and 66 touchdown. Johnson still holds several franchise receiving records.
He also had a one-season run with the New England Patriots in 2011 that ended in a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.
Johnson was cut after the season and signed with the Miami Dolphins, who later released him after his arrest in connection with an domestic dispute with his wife.
It's good to see Chad get to play football again, as he doesn't want the lasting memory people have of his exit from the game to be his fallout with the Dolphins and a forgettable year in New England.
"It's just football. It's football," Johnson said of his tryout. "It's not about Montreal. It's about the opportunity to be able to play football again, something I love."