NEWS: During Tuesday’s night’s episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” Chad Ochocinco Johnson is portrayed as a subpart player who can’t perform his duties on the field and can’t control himself off of it. Ultimately, we are given the impression that this is what led to the Miami Dolphins’ decision to cut the wide receiver and not solely his arrest over the weekend on domestic-violence charges after allegedly head-butting his wife Evelyn Lozada. In scenes showing the Dolphins team practice, Johnson has great difficulty getting open against their cornerback Sean Smith. When he finally has an opportunity to shine during a preseason game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he can’t catch a perfectly thrown ball on 3rd down. He is then removed from the game and unable to redeem himself. Johnson is seen cursing at reporters during a press conference and this happens on more than one occasion. Dolphins starting quarterback David Garrard calls him out in front of his coaches during a film session stating, “You know what? I’m gonna have to talk to Chad because he does so much stuff that I don’t know if he’s like not getting plays or he’s trying to give me a heads up on something.”
Before breaking the bad news to Johnson, Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is filmed talking on his cell phone speaking to an unnamed person about his player’s antics. “We had an incident this summer where he was tweeting stuff he shouldn’t have,” says Philbin. “Then we had the press conference where he goes off on a tirade and F this and F that. Now we got this thing. He hasn’t been around a whole tine. His temperament isn’t great for us.”
TRUTH: Following Chad Johnson’s arrest, VH1 canceled the couples upcoming reality series “Ev and Ocho.” Lozada, who wed Johnson six weeks ago, filed the documents in Florida on Tuesday, citing that her marriage is “irretrievably broken.” According to reports the couple had a prenup.
Dolpins safety Reshad Jones agreed the decision to release Johnson seemed hasty. “It was shocking to see he was going to be released a day after the incident,” Jones said. “It is pretty disappointing. But that was up to the coaching staff.”
Johnson released an official statement on Tuesday night regarding the matter. “I would like to apologize to everyone for the recent events that have occurred,” the statement reads. “I would like to wish Evelyn well and will never say anything bad about her because I truly love her to death. I will continue to be positive and train hard for another opportunity in the NFL. To all the fans and supporters I have disappointed, you have my sincerest apologies. I will stay positive and get through this tough period in my life.”
Chad Johnson is the 12th-most followed athlete on Twitter. Take out the international soccer stars and he is fourth behind only Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.