NO BULL: Falcons could reunite Bratkowski, Ochocinco
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco attempts to ride a bull named Deja Blu during an intermission at the Professional Bull Riders' Lucas Oil Invitation bull riding event in Duluth, Ga., Saturday, May 14, 2011. (By John Bazemore, Associated Press)
The Falcons could have the inside track to land six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco if he becomes a free agent.
He’s currently under contract to the Cincinnati Bengals, but they could release him when the lockout is lifted.
The Falcons hired Bob Bratkowski, the Bengals former offensive coordinator, to be their new quarterbacks coach in February.
According to Ochocinco, Bratkowski has been a longtime supporter.
Former Cincinnati offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is the Falcons new quarterbacks coach. (Associated Press)
“Coach Bratkowski is the reason why I’m with the Bengals,” Ochocinco said after riding a bull at the Gwinnett Arena on Saturday. “He was my coach at the Senior Bowl when I was coming out. He went to bat for me. They weren’t going to take me. But from what he saw at the Senior Bowl before the draft is the reason why he stood on the table for me and that’s why they drafted me.”
Ochocinco would not say if he wants to become a Falcon if, as has been widely speculated, his days in Cincinnati are indeed numbered.
“It’s a lockout, man,” Ochocinco said. “I’m riding bulls. I don’t want to talk about football.”
Ochocinco nearly had his legs stomped on by a 1,500-pound bull named Deja Blu. However, he didn’t consider riding the bull as a risky proposition.
“Every down is a risk to my career,” Ochocinco said. “Every time that I wake up in the morning, it’s a risk to life in general. I don’t live life like that. One of the things about me is that I’m extremely interesting. I’m unpredictable and I am willing to do anything. If God said it was OK to ride, which he did, he said ‘I got you.’ I went out there and rode.”
If Ochocinco stayed on the bull for eight seconds he was going to rename he bull “Marvin Lewis.” That probably would not have gone over well with Falcons coach Mike Smith, who is friends with Lewis.
“I’m sure my coaches were probably pissed,” Ochocinco said. “I would be too. I’m sure the NFL was pissed, but I don’t follow their rules anyway.”
His bull riding days are over.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Ochocinco said. “One and done.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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187 comments Add your comment
Chad Rider
May 17th, 2011
8:30 am
It does look as if he’s coming. He stated Cincinnati was lacking when it comes to rodeos and Georgia had more to offer. It’s time to take the bull by the horns. Atlanta has offered him the # 85 by the way. Ridem’ Ocho!
Iceman
May 17th, 2011
8:31 am
Please God in Heaven…NO. No freakin way.
Notso Fast
May 17th, 2011
8:31 am
We are going to give up what we gave up to get Jones so we could spend more big dollars to bring in this guy that does not fit into the Falcon’s way. I don’t think so. If we are going to try and make news then lets do it on defense.
rudy
May 17th, 2011
8:32 am
i rather keep the lockout than have him on our team……
ATL Fan
May 17th, 2011
8:37 am
I’d rather we get the bull Deja Blu than the the bull crap Chad (I don’t know spanish) Johnson.
UGABugKiller
May 17th, 2011
8:43 am
Even though blog posts like this are nothing but shameless attempts to drum up page views (yeah, DOL, I said it… hahaha)…
… posts like this do have ONE purpose:
They further help us separate the MORONS on this blog from the rational-thinking people.
ANYONE who defends Chad Johnson, or who wants him on the Falcons is a MORON.
Everyone should point and laugh at these people, for they are too stupid to live.
dean
May 17th, 2011
8:47 am
Tana made me ask myself, “He11, why not?” (I’ve said nooooooooo to this before.) Coach Smith sits him down, ’splains the do’s and dont’s, and gives it a shot. If he pulls a Moss act, Coach Smith does a Belichek (sp?) act and sends him on down the road. I think it could be fun.
Rick
May 17th, 2011
8:48 am
Enter your comments here
OH He!! NO.
J
May 17th, 2011
8:49 am
For the love of god Betwetter WE DO NOT WANT OCHOCINO. GIVE IT UP!
BirdDirty
May 17th, 2011
8:50 am
Can Chad play defensive end? If he can get us 8 sacks opposite Abraham, I say sign him up.
Texas2steps
May 17th, 2011
8:52 am
No !
coachx
May 17th, 2011
8:54 am
NOOOOOOOO !
No Ochocinco’s need apply here !
SawThat1nce
May 17th, 2011
8:54 am
That picture has Ocho doing what he seems to do a lot of……showing his a$$.
Everyone knows, there is no chance of him ever playing for the Falcons.
Larry
May 17th, 2011
8:54 am
By suggesting this DOL is not “stirring the pot”…rather he must be smoking the pot!
ddawgdavis
May 17th, 2011
8:57 am
Hey, times are tough on the Falcons Blog front. Only so many volunteer player camps and run-in’s at the local Chick-fil-a to report on. Why not have a little fun with the #85? He’s good for the game, kind of fallen off over the past few years, but good for a FUN SPORT. Stir the pot DOL, next let’s do a report on DEs who are available or could be. I recommend how we plan on digging up the corpse of Reggie White to play opposite of JA55? What?
SawThat1nce
May 17th, 2011
8:58 am
Heck, Ocho might be too old to play, by the time the lockout ends.
SawThat1nce
May 17th, 2011
8:59 am
I think that Ocho would be a great fit, for the saints.
Andy
May 17th, 2011
9:01 am
I sincerely hope you wrote this to stir the pot. If you did, bravo sir, it worked.
This would make absolutely zero football sense. Roddy, Julio and Weems clearly have three of the five WR spots next year, and if anyone thinks we should sign Chad when we’ve got three guys competing for the other two spots, they’re crazy. We’re set at WR.
Atlanta fans=clueless
May 17th, 2011
9:04 am
GET HIM!!! He is at least interesting and is a proven WR. Why are so many people afraid of sports figures that speak up? Falcons have 0 championships and this could help them get over the hump.
ROD
May 17th, 2011
9:08 am
Yes, yes, yes!!!! This exactly what the Falcons need. I say bring in T.O. also. The Falcons need a player with that competitive spirit. They have tried to stay way from the quote on quote negative player, but I still do not see a Superbowl ring. I think the Chicago Bulls and Pistons won Championships with Dennis Rodman. So get over it Atlanta, not only they should consider Chad, but T.O. also. But who cares who they bring in, because we still have a quarterback that’s throws interceptions. YES TO CHAD, T.O., AND Nnamdi!!! Please go after Nnamdi!!!
BigGA_BirdDawgFan
May 17th, 2011
9:19 am
Big Dawg
May 17th, 2011
7:53 am
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No and No
AMEN!!!!!
DHD
May 17th, 2011
9:20 am
Another slow day for the AJC.
AlanFalcon
May 17th, 2011
9:22 am
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !
HE MY BABY DADDY
May 17th, 2011
9:25 am
THE ODDS OF HIM BEING A FALCON ARE AS GOOD AS AS THE ODDS THAT OBAMA’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS LEGIT!!!!
falconfanriseup
May 17th, 2011
9:28 am
Don’t even entertain the thought Chad is not coming to Atlanta. Why this is why Roddy White, Julio Jones, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas, Eric Weems, Keiry Meier and what ever Undrafted free agents that is out there they already no room for him and we might to trade Jenkins so this will not be intertained it is almost laughable.
How stupid
May 17th, 2011
9:28 am
DLed …. Why do you pull such stories out of your arse ?
There’s no news here, as the Falcons would never bring in a Chad Johnson, no matter what Bratkowski says about him. Hell Bratkowski, could get on his knees and beg, or roll around on the floor and throw a temper tantrum like a little girl.
If the Falcons wanted loud mouthed under producing players they could have just kept D Hall. They’ve demonstrated this is NOT the kind of player they want on the team.
Besides the fact we just made a fairly significant trade for Julio Jones, a player that has just as much talent as CJ, but has far more class, and appears to be the anti-diva at the position.
If Johnson was a premier DE, or CB, they might take a look. Seeing as how he’s a WR where our cupboard is pretty full, there’s absolutely zero chance he lands in Atlanta.
waynester
May 17th, 2011
9:29 am
WHY?
A couple of posters have hit it already—who do we cut to make room for this guy? Barring injury, we’re set at WR…..
Jt
May 17th, 2011
9:32 am
Orlando…. do you just write articles on impulse or do actually think of meaningless subjects to talk about.
Team Dream
May 17th, 2011
9:35 am
Exhibit ‘A’ = what Julius Peppers did to the Carolina Panthers: HUGE salary that hamstrung the team for 2-3 years with NO on the field results other than laziness and bling-bling and drama. Move to Hollywood Chad … clearly that’s where your heart is at this point.
the truth...
May 17th, 2011
9:35 am
Give me a break… he was riding a bull and he fits with what comes out of that animal. . . . . . .A pile
BigGA_BirdDawgFan
May 17th, 2011
9:37 am
Aside from the fact that he acts more self-absorbed and self-centered than MEangelo Hall, (and we all remember how well that crap went over here,) I really don’t think he is very smart. I base that on his actions. He just put his entire remaining career at serious risk riding a PBR type bull for a grand reward of 10K and a P/U truck. If that bull had landed on his legs, as it almost did, he would be out of the game for a season at least and possibly forever. Not smart.
But the dumbest thing is the name thing. He changed his name to his jersey number, or so he thought. Actually he only got close.
Jersey number 85.
Pronounced “eightyfive.”
Spanish for eightyfive is “ochenta y cinco” NOT “ochocinco.”
Ochocinco is not a spanish word. It is TWO spanish words meaning “eight” and “five” jammed together by a not very smart goof. All he had to do was punch it into Babel Fish to find this out–before he had his name changed.
DOL, I know you are desperate for subject matter during this lull in NFL happenings but this article is really reaching. NO ONE can image Arthur Blank bringing such a disruptive personality into the Falcons clubhouse, especially after the trade up for Jones.
How about an article on why your picture makes you look like you are sneering at us. Carvell’s does too. Is that indicative of a general new picture policy at the AJC?
Love the Bow-Ties though.
DC
May 17th, 2011
9:37 am
so he is going to be playing for the falcons “he my baby daddy”?
Casey
May 17th, 2011
9:39 am
Can he play defense?
Dennis
May 17th, 2011
9:44 am
NO! NO! NO!
mgdawg
May 17th, 2011
9:45 am
If we could get him for nothing, then yes go after, by nothing I mean giving him the pay of a number 3-4 receiver. However, this is not going to happen. He would want way more money then that and after trading away everything they did for julio, and when they can talk contracts having to pay him as a 6 overall pick, there isn’t any money left in the WR bank account. It ain’t going to happen, I’ve got to think any big free agent pick up will be on the defensive side of the ball.
usbummer
May 17th, 2011
9:46 am
How about signing him and then trading him for some of the lost draft picks we surrendered to get JJ?
enz
May 17th, 2011
9:48 am
crappy attitude, diminished skills…
stop speculating.
Thanks. K bye.
Terrell
May 17th, 2011
9:49 am
Here’s what I don’t get about these “Holier than Thou” fans. chad has never gotten in trouble with the law, he has never caused a stir in the locker room to put players against each other, but somehow he has bad character? I hope you all aren’t this uptight at your jobs. The best WRs all had a diva behavior. Ask Steve Young about Jerry Rice and how he always wanted the ball and got mad when he didn’t get it. Ask Troy Aikman about Michael Irvin. Ask Peyton Manning about Marvin Harrison.
DC
May 17th, 2011
9:49 am
I thought we were going to trade Jenkins for draft picks?…plus his contract is asking too much for a 3rd strink Wide out..
buzzer
May 17th, 2011
9:55 am
Jenkins is better in ALL aspects than Chad. Hes just all talk and a no show. His time is OVA! Can’t we get Sidney Rice instead? At least he can catch it.
Terrell
May 17th, 2011
9:56 am
BigGA_BirdDawgFan
Since you’re so quick to talk about how smart somebody is: Chad knows the that Ochocinco is not “85″ but he knew that the majority of America would know what he was talking about if he did what he did as opposed to using the actual number. You can call him dumb, but he’s enjoying life. While we may not agree with everything that he does is he out on the streets selling drugs or doing some other crime?
Johnny Beach
May 17th, 2011
9:56 am
Ochocinco = trouble……………..NO THANKS
QB/DB
May 17th, 2011
10:09 am
Need to spend$$ on DE, LB, S, back-up Corner and OFF. Linemen more, Then I might look at it
gran pila 19
May 17th, 2011
10:10 am
OH GOD NO! He is a giant distraction and would at best be the 4th receiver behind Roddy White, Julio Jones and Michael Jenkins.
GIVE ME A BREAK
May 17th, 2011
10:17 am
Nothing to write about, Orlando?
T.Oh...no!
May 17th, 2011
10:22 am
Ocho-cinco is legit, I can vouch for him! Oh wait….
T.Oh...no!
May 17th, 2011
10:24 am
Ocho-cinco a distraction? He would distract everyone from that butt whipping that the Packers gave the Falcons last year, in the Dome! Make him a corner, he knows the routes.
kong
May 17th, 2011
10:27 am
No, please….this guy’s trouble big time, didn’t look so hot last year.
Greg Mendel
May 17th, 2011
10:30 am
Breaking News: ESPN reports that the Atlanta Falcons are interested in signing free agent Donald Trump in a move to upgrade their defense. No specific position was mentioned for the celebrity real estate magnate. An unnamed team official stated that Trump could be used as a DE or “he could just stand around and get in the way.”
WhiteShoes
May 17th, 2011
10:31 am
…….but I don’t follow their rules anyway.”
Pretty much says it all about Ocho-No-Catch-O. Falcons, do yourselves a favor, don’t bring in this distraction.