They're no longer the New England Patriots. They're Father Belichick's Home for Wayward Youths.

After acquiring defensive tackl...in the day, the New England Patriots have now pulled the trigger on a deal that nets them for... Ochocinco.

In fairness to The Ocho, he's never been the off-the-field troublemaker that Haynesworth was. But he was an unhappy Bengal (not an unreasonable position) and his attention-grabbing, "look at me!" antics are unlike anything else ever seen in the NFL.

In return, the Bengals get a couple of draft picks, one this year, and one next year. Which picks they are remain unknown.

The Patriots have unending faith in the stability of their own locker room. With any other team, the immediate reaction to bringing in Haynesworth and Ochocinco on the same day would be something like, "Disaster is imminent." With the Patriots and Bill Belichick, though, the immediate reaction is to fear that he'll turn both guys back into Pro Bowlers and dominate the NFL forever.

Also of interest: As Trey Wingo points out on Twitter, the number "85" (ochenta y cinco, or "ochocinco," if you insist) is already in use in New England by Aaron Hernandez(notes). Either a deal is going to have to be worked out between Ocho and Hernandez (see if you can get more creative than Chris Kluwe, fellas), or Chad's going to have the second-most absurd jersey of all-time.

I guess there are not alot of football fans in here. This should be interesting as to wether Ocho can keep his mouth shut and not draw attention or will Belichick just let him be Chad.

SoLiDiFy said:

I guess there are not alot of football fans in here. This should be interesting as to wether Ocho can keep his mouth shut and not draw attention or will Belichick just let him be Chad.

There is almost always an ongoing sports thread of one kind or another. This is the football one right now http://prince.org/msg/100/363605

I think Haynesworth was a bigger risk and will be a bigger project. Chad is good, he just needs to cut back on the chatter a little and work hard. If he does that I expect him to have a career season.

SoLiDiFy said:

I guess there are not alot of football fans in here. This should be interesting as to wether Ocho can keep his mouth shut and not draw attention or will Belichick just let him be Chad.

If he does his job and isn't a distraction in the locker room, there'll be no problem.

uPtoWnNY said:

SoLiDiFy said:

I guess there are not alot of football fans in here. This should be interesting as to wether Ocho can keep his mouth shut and not draw attention or will Belichick just let him be Chad.

If he does his job and isn't a distraction in the locker room, there'll be no problem.

Ha!

SCNDLS said:

uPtoWnNY said:

If he does his job and isn't a distraction in the locker room, there'll be no problem.

Ha!

He'll find out Bill Belichick runs a tighter ship than Marvin Lewis.

Chad may wind up having his best season as a pro.

Graycap23 said:

Chad may wind up having his best season as a pro.

"Ochohincó" can run his mouth if he wants to, where's Randy Moss?

He's been traded to a new team ... but Chad Ochocinco DOES NOT want a new jersey number -- and sources close to the NFL star tell TMZ .. he's willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to sport #85 for the New England Patriots this season.

Problem is .... the number currently belongs to Patriots STUD tight end Aaron Hernandez -- who rocked #85 in 2010 ... when he DOMINATED all season long.

We're told Ochocinco -- who CHANGED HIS LAST NAME to match his jersey number a few years ago -- wants to PAY Hernandez to give up the digits ... and sources say Chad feels "no number is too high."

FYI -- jersey numbers don't come cheap -- it cost Clinton Portis a cool $18k to buy the #26 from a teammate when he was traded to the Washington Redskins a few years ago.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

You already know

Seeking a roommate in New England? How about Chad Ochocinco?

Would you like a male roommate who is financially secure and gone on most Sundays?

I happen to know of one such fellow who's looking for a place to stay in the Foxborough, Massachusetts area. His name is Chad and he's very friendly, though some might describe him as a bit dramatic.

His last name is Ochocinc...n with you. Really. From Mike Reiss at ESPNBoston.com:

"I'm going to do something different, I'm actually going to stay with a fan for the first two, three weeks of the season," he said Tuesday. "That should be fun, until I get myself acclimated and learn my way around."

Ochocinco hasn't yet picked the fan.

"I'm not sure how it's going to work, but they have to have Internet and have to have Xbox," he said. "That's about it."

Sometimes, there's just nothing to say, and the only thing you can really do is just sit in awe of Chad Ochocinco(notes). Most players are (completely understandably) so guarded with their personal lives and never share anything real with anyone outside of a very exclusive inner circle.

This one wants to move in with you.

How can you not love that?