After a 9-year NFL career where Chad Ochocinco has caught 53 career touchdowns, you would have figured that the game-winning points that he provided in the Bengals 7-6 win over the Patriots would have come with his hands.
But “Mr. Child Please” showed the world a whole new side of him as Ochocinco subbing for injured Bengals kicker Shayne Graham (groin) kicked a perfect extra point right down the middle to give the Bengals the preseason win.
The winning extra point came after Bengals WR Chris Henry’s 24-yard touchdown pass from J.T. O’Sullivan late in the second quarter. Ochocinco said. “I went out there and did what I do. I just kicked. … Everyone has to remember, I’ve always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now.”
Not to be outdone by himself, No. 85 also credibly booted a kickoff to the Patriots' 9-yard line to open the second half. I am sure the Bengals staff thought that the talkative receiver was just pulling their leg when he first said that he could kick.
However the former Miami Beach HS football star, who also played soccer growing up, proved to be an accurate soccer-style kicker even finishing with a Garo Yepremian-esque high leg finish. “Nothing suprises me. All joking aside, he still kicked the ball through the uprights and it ended up winning the game,” said O’Sullivan. The Bengals backup passer added, “Some people think it's funny, but it's important.”
This wasn’t the first time that a position player had to kick – former Eagles LB Mark Simoneau accomplished the feat in a 2005 regular season game against the Raiders. But Ocho Cinco may have proved that he maybe the NFL’s next Paul Hornung, who was an accomplished kicker and offensive threat for the Packers back in the 1960’s.
“He reminded me that he could do it,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “It was good for him to get the chance and he hit it good and his kickoff wasn’t bad. He had the game-winning points. Ocho strikes again. He reminded me to make sure I said something.”
You know the NFL Films cameras filming the series HBO’s Hard Knocks featuring the Bengals in training camp this season loved the chance to put more Ochocinco into their production. We even almost got to see the 5-time Pro Bowl player get a chance to kick a field goal early in the second quarter, but the kick would have been executed from a far hash mark. The Bengals from the Patriots’ 27 decided to go for it on fourth-and-7 with O’Sullivan being sacked by Patriots LB Adalius Thomas.
Ochocinco, who has vowed to improve upon his pedestrian 2008 numbers of 53 catches for 540 yards and 4 TDs, also added 69 receiving yards on three catches in his regular role as the Bengals #1 offensive threat.
