Before you read this please know... I have no real opinion on this issue. I am just interested in hearing what everyone else thinks...

Ochocinco was released today by the New England Patriots. The Pats reportedly tried to trade Ochocinco away, but had no takers.

Ochocinco was reported as looking "very fast" and well conditioned while he was going thru OTAs with the Pats. He was realsed due to his inability to play on the same page as Tom Brady, who has other recievers that he has good chemistry with already on the Pats squad.

What are everyone's thoughts on bringing a SEASONED veteran in to help out our VERY YOUNG group of recievers. I could see how even Percy could benifit by watching and learning from Ochocinco, as long as he leaves his extra baggage in NE.

As well as teaching the youngsters, he could be a quick addition of speed, vertical threat, talent, and experience.

Bottom line, hes still good. He can still play. The Vikes have not solved their WR issues YET. Will they be able to do so without a player like Ochocinco? Or should we sign the old guy to a 1 year deal and see what he can do for us?

Hes better then any receiver we have, other then PH. But hes old and Spielman wont even make the effort to see if hes worth it. Hes also an attention wh#re.

That's what they pay coaches for.

no

3 years ago I'd want him but I'll pass now. Jenkins is our vested veteran at WR. Harvin is probably even considered a veteran at this point. As is DA if he makes the team.

No chance that happens. He doesn't fit the current mold and has already lost a step. Would I prefer him to Jenkins, though (talent-wise)? Probably. But I see him ending up in Miami.

I personally LOVE Ochocinco and i feel like he didn't get a totally fair shake in NE. Guy had 1 month to learn a complex NE offensive system and they used Welker and the two TE set way more than any other team. I'd personally love for our outside guys to be Ocho and Simpson with Percy slot. Jenkins could be solid too.

What on earth makes you think he has any ability to teach young WR's how to do anything but be a pain in the ####?

He could teach them erroneous Spanish.

I like Ochocinco. He makes plays and his antics are generally harmless and in good fun. Worth a good look, IMO.

ha. 751 catches. 10,783 yards. 66 touchdowns. never been in trouble. never been a cancer in the locker room. loves attention...i'll give you that.

fyi....i'm not lobbying for OC nor do i think the vikes will entertain the idea.

I'm not sure Ochocinco fits into what the Vikes are trying to do right now, but I've always found his humor a welcome addition to the NFL. The guy might be a bit of a drama queen, but unlike most WR primadonnas, he doesn't seem to be a total disaster in the locker room. The year where he had his list of DB's he would smoke was great fun, plus at the end of the season he did an interview and admitted to getting out played one week and even gave the guy who outplayed him props. I know his humor isn't for everyone, but I thought that was great.

I don't get the ocho diva thing. His teammates all like him, he's cool with fans, and generally plays well when he's out there.

Yup. I dont think you can have enough weapons. The only way vikings compete in the north is if they can match score for score with packers, lions, and bears which won't happen with the current wr's. Vikings need some attention and personality anyways. Ochocinco is a good guy.

i agree. follow the dude on twitter. doesn't get much nicer than that dude. love how he just always tells people to meet him for dinner or something and then people do...and he actually buys them dinner! couple months ago some dude in boston jokingly (i think) asked ocho to come pick him up. ocho said he'd be there in 30 minutes. a thought this too was a joke. read twitter an hour later and there is a pic of ocho and some random dude he picked up in downtown boston!

never understood the hate for the guy.

I don't hate him, I just don't like guys who clamour for attention all the time by being stupid. Just play the game and let that be the thing that gets attention for you. He is (was) a great receiver but I get sick of the goofiness.

i understand that take...i just happen to disagree. football is a game. it's supposed to be fun. fans act like complete idiots at games! face painting, wearing jerseys, high-fiving, hooting and hollering. yet when players celebrate the great plays we want them to just go about business as usual. i have never understood why? we have no idea how hard it is to score a td in the nfl but my guess is REALLY hard. unless you're playing against the vikes secondary....td's are hard to come by. these guys bust their #### off year round to reach paydirt...and when they do i think they should have fun. other than taunting the other team i say let them have fun! for petes sake....guys can't even spike the ball anymore!

Lets hope nobody from the Vikings secondary happens to come in and see that comment

The Viking secondary should be proud of how they make some QBs and WRs feel about themselves even if it is for just for one game. Our secondary plays a important roll of confidence builder for the NFL.

As far as Ocho if he played for the league minimum then yes grab him otherwise take a pass for younger talent.

pass too old and not as good as he think he thinks he is

Couldn't hurt to see what he still has left, and if he can be had for a reasonable one-year deal like all our other FA signings then sounds like a fine idea to me. Maybe last season in New England humbed him and he'll play with a chip on his shoulder. Even if he's nowhere near the player he once was, I think he could step in and help the team for sure.

ha. touche.

although i hope they do!

I have always liked Chad Johnson. However, given the youth mentality of the team, I see no way Chad makes it on this team.

He is a veteran, you say we pay coaches to "teach" our players? I beg to differ. Coaches are there to install offense and defense. They "teach" players how to run their specific package. Its up to the players themselves to know the game. When it comes to veterans, they are the true teachers. Look back at the Randy Moss and Chris Carter days... Randy was a freak, but I honestly would say that without Chris, he wouldnt have been as good so quick. Percy is a boss, he knows the game and how to play well, but having another player that is on the same level as he is, would help tremendously. They would push eachother to their limits. Look at Roddy White and Julio Jones... Jenkins (ironic how Jenkins came from ATL) may be a great guy but hes not the veteran leader we would like to see. Percy is a veteran OF THE TEAM, not in the NFL. We need another guy here to get these young recivers going. Childs has potential to be the next Randy Moss. His situation is a little bit different than Mosses, but both young guys coming out early with a chip on their shoulder. Do I need to say how good Wright can be? Childs and Wright would also benefit tremendously from having a good veteran to practice with.

Not to mention our new DB's could use a guy like ochocinco to cover in practice...

I am not saying Ochocinco is the key to a superbowl, but we could use somebody and hes the only real quality guy left.

Oh, and do some research before anyone tries to tear this response up.

lets keep young talent off the field so we can put an old man on. no thank you. we drafted guys to see them play. not watch ocho.

In Ochocinco's defense, he is a good person. Doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, gives tons to charity, and spends tons of time with fans/the community.
With that said, I don't want him on the team.

I think he's a good player, but he has also always been the kind of player who does best when he ad libs. Cris Carter was an effective mentor because he was a precise - surgically precise - route runner, and a training and conditioning guru. While I highly respect Chad as a person for all his charity work and fan interaction (and would love for him to add that side of himself to the Vikings), I don't think he is the steady veteran influence the Vikings need. But, I certainly would not flip out if the Vikings decided to give him a shot.

The piece of the puzzle you are missing in this statement is 'respect'. Moss respected Cris Carter because he was Cris Carter. Ochocinco has made a joke out of himself. Does anyone on the board actually respect Ochocinco? The same guy that changed his name to a number? Keep this bum as far away from this team as possible.

I Dont think Chad is capable of teaching anybody anything...


GIFSoup

Exactly. We need our young players to grow by playing the game.