Crazy Ochos

Whatever words eventually are used to describe the 2011 New England Patriots, boring will not be one of them.

The Pats started yesterday off by trading for the NFL's notorious B.I.G. Albert Haynesworth. They closed out the day by adding Chad Johnson. That's Ochocinco to most of you.

Oh, and Tom Brady and the boys had their first practice of training camp at Gillette. What lockout? If this is any indication of the entertainment level in store for Pats fans this season we are in for quite a year.

Ochocinco and Belichick have had a long-distance love affair for years now. Ocho isn't shy about saying what's on his mind and he has been saying for a while now that he would love to play for the Pats. Now it has come to pass.

Ocho is 33 years old. How much does he have left? Two years ago he had nearly 1,100 yards catching and nine touchdowns. Last year his numbers dropped because he had to share the ball -- and the spotlight -- with T.O. Is Ocho's signing like last year's pick up of veteran Torry Holt? Hopefully not. I was optimistic that Holt would play a key role last year. Unfortunately he never made it out of training camp. Ocho is a few years younger and certainly in better condition. He doesn't have to be the center of the offensive attention. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how Ocho blends in. The guy likes the ball. That's fine. Brady will get him the ball. When it's the right time.

There will be lots of talk the next few days on Sports Blab radio about how the Pats have added two bad character guys. I've already heard the thinking that with the death of Myra Kraft, the Pats now are signing players they wouldn't have while she was alive. It's amazing what you can come up with when you have to talk on the radio for four or five hours.

Ocho and Haynesworth are completely different stories. Haynesworth is a definite reclamation project. His rep as a problem child is well earned. But his talent at one of the key positions in the game makes it a no-brainer of a gamble. If he can't get his act together he'll be heading out of Foxborough as quickly as he arrived. If he can, then it's the move of the year.

Ocho is colorful. Not controversial. Fun-loving. Not shit-stirring. He should fit in great with Brady. He loves playing the game and he's now playing with one of the best teams in the NFL.

It won't be boring.