Ochocinco: "I'm Doing Just Fine"
FOXBORO (CBS) - Chad Ochocinco has heard the criticism. He keeps his ears open and people are saying he doesn't know the playbook.
"I've heard small little rumblings that I haven't caught on yet," Ochocinco told reporters Tuesday. "I'm doing just fine. I'm not sure why or how it is, but coming from any place where you've been 10 years, to come here and learn the verbiage and learn as much as I have the past three weeks, I've done extremely well. It's been fun, it's been enjoyable."
The bottom line is Chad is trying to learn a new offense, a complicated one I may add and he's trying to do it without the benefit of an off season. If the Patriots had OTA's this year, well maybe Ocho would have no excuse. But learning a new offense is like taking in a new language and it's even tougher on the fly.
"I'm just nowhere near where I want to be," he added. "I'm my biggest critic anyway. Regardless of what you write or what you guys see, I'm the first to judge myself. I'm always aiming for perfection. One of those things about being here, in an organization like this that prides itself on perfection and excellence, I'm sort of putting the pressure on myself to be right and be perfect now. Not later. I'm trying to squeeze everything within a shorter time frame. If I can aim to be as perfect as possible, I think I'll get up to speed."
As far as the criticism, Chad said he expects it. The fans and the media have a job to do and it's his job to try and quiet them.
"I like that. You guys have a job to do. You're not my friends, you guys have a job to do and I understand that. I want you guys to critique the hell of me, as I can also do to you. I hold no grudges, but as you fire upon me, believe, I will fire back," he said. "... High profile, flashy, flamboyant players coming in, [you're] supposed to come in a certain way, point blank. There is no room. I understand that. I know you're all going to kill me, especially here. Boston loves their sports. If I'm [expletive] up, you're going to get me."
