Chad Ochocinco needs to be loved. And needed. And, well, with the NFL Draft and the lockout-related court issues in the headlines, Chad is again trying to not be forgotten.
He took to Twitter Tuesday as he often does, but on this day he decided to talk business. And push his agenda of getting himself pushed out of Cincinnati.
A series of Tuesday afternoon tweets included the receiver saying Bengals coach Marvin Lewis "hurt my feelings" and "I think I'm gone."
In response to a fan question about the Bengals possibly using the No. 4 overall pick Thursday on Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, Ochocinco wrote that "he'd be perfect. I've done all I can. My time is up."
The 33-year-old Ochocinco, who's coming off one of his worst statistical seasons, is under contract for more than $6 million in 2011 before becoming eligible for free agency.
Ochcocinco spent last offseason doing a reality TV dating show and Dancing With The Stars, skipping all the Bengals' optional offseaon activities. So far this offseason he's tried out for Major League Soccer and has claimed he both wants a trade and wants to change his last name back to Johnson. He later took both statements back.
In addition to sending multiple tweets to his more than 1.95 million followers nearly every day, he also challenged Lewis to a steel-cage match in a nationally-televised interview.
He said on Twitter Tuesday that Lewis "has been mean to me."
Ochocinco also used Twitter to stick up for Bengals QB Carson Palmer, who's also trying to get himself out of Cincinnati. Palmer has threatened to retire if he's not traded. Ochocinco hasn't taken that course of action, but he's done his part to leave the Bengals no choice but to cut ties.
And that's where it gets tricky. Bengals Owner Mike Brown does things his way, and his track record says he doesn't budge against disgruntled players who are under contract. Ochocinco's battles with Lewis are the receiver's latest way of pushing the envelope and hoping the Bengals move him in attempt to move forward and eliminate distractions from the locker room.
The Bengals went 4-12 last year after winning the AFC North at 11-5 in 2009.
--Zac Jackson
