When you think back through NFL history you will be hard pressed to find a talent and someone with a personality like Chad Ochocinco. The former All-Pro and Cincinatti Bengals wide reciever will be one of four hosts for the Sports Illustrated Awards.
Prior to the hosting gig, Chad spoke with The Source to detail how he infuses his perosnaltiy into the hosting gig, makes his pick for the best game of the year, and also gives a spoiler on who will win the Super Bowl.
The Source: You have an amazing personality. We’ve been seeing it for years on and off the field. What parts of that are you bringing to your hosting role from Sports Illustrated awards?
Chad Ochocinco: Just being myself, honestly, understanding the restrictions and the guidelines that I have to abide by. You never know what you’re going to get. I’ve always been able to teeter the line without crossing it. Therefore, my personality is one of the things that have saved me and allow me to work in different environments and know how to turn it on and turn it off.
You are co-hosting with Cari Champion, Richard Jefferson, and Lindsey Vonn. How do you think you’re going to blend with them? And have you had any experience with talking with them already prior to the show?
Cari and I, we worked together at ESPN before, so we have a little chemistry in front of the camera. Richard Jefferson, I know personally, but never had the opportunity to work with him. And obviously the legend Lindsey Vonn, this was our first time meeting. It was fun.
So you’re hosting here and we see you on the I Am Athlete podcast. Are there other areas that you want to expand and speak more?
It is, it is. I just don’t really know exactly what that would be right now. Obviously, I’m doing so much with the NFL and stuff. And more so as far as speaking engagements go, if the opportunity presented itself based on what the topic was, I would love to. It has to be something I’m passionate about.
This night, we’re going to celebrate some of the biggest stars in their ability, both on the field, on the court, off the field in the past year. Whose story, their abilities, and what they have been able to do has impressed you the most.
Definitely Maya Moore story and the dedication, the sacrifice, the discipline it took. For those who don’t know, make sure you go check it out or just make you watch SI awards. What she was able to do was phenomenal. In the dictionary under the definition of sacrifice, right? Like it should be a picture of her because, you know, leaving the sport you love and you grew up wanting to play at the highest level. Putting that on the backseat for a cause or a person or individual that you know, was done wrong and fighting the fight for the civic cause.
Is literally the thing that one of the things that movies are made of right.
Matter of fact, and the fact that you just said it, that is a movie in itself, that was a movie in itself without cameras rolling.
I know you’ve had the intensity of being in some big games. In the past year, we had a few big things going on. Mahomes winning the Super Bowl, that epic battle between Jimmy Butler and LeBron James. Was there any that you saw in this quarantine world that really stuck with you?
From a football perspective. I think my best game that really stuck with me and we’re almost in week 14, 15 as a season was the Browns-Ravens game all the way down to the wire. The back and forth, Lamar goes out cramping or haven’t used the bathroom, whatever it may become. He comes back. I’m thinking the Browns when the game what’s the Browns score. It’s only what a minute and 20 on the clock or something like that. And to me, I’m thinking the Ravens offense, you know, they’re not really built to play from behind. But for Lamar to drive the length of the field and score and just end it the way that game ended. If every football game could end that way in that fashion. I mean, you couldn’t write a better script for a movie.
During your career, you were a Bengals guy. Before his injury, how did you like Joe Burrow’s performance?
Joe was awesome. And to be able to do what he’s done, what he was doing, before the injury, it was no different than what he did when he was at LSU. Just being consistent despite, you know, the O-line not being what it should be and being able to keep him upright.
I’ve been watching football for a long time, and I saw your career, I’ve seen Randy Moss, T.O. It seems like now that the NFL is just like stacked with wide receivers. Everybody has two guys that could be a number one.
I think the game has evolved. The game is different. I wouldn’t say the players are better than the receivers back in our day. And I think it’s different. They’re good. They’re extremely good. But you gotta remember we had some dogs during that era.
None of them are quite you, but is there anybody that you look at and you think “Oh, he reminds me of me” ?
Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen. They had that same skill set, that same DNA in them. The only thing they don’t have is the personality on top of that and made it fun and antagonizing. I just took it to a completely different level, which is a little bit too much added pressure, but yeah, those dudes are really good.
I’m putting you on the spot who’s league MVP this year and who wins the super bowl?
League MVP this year. I’m going with DeVante Adams, obviously, with what he’s been able to do and not getting the credit he deserves from the so-called media plan. He does have Aaron Rogers on the ball, but still what he’s been able to do and being the consistent year in, year out.
As far as the Super Bowl, I’d like to see the Dolphins I’m from Miami. I’m a Florida boy. But if, if we’re going to be realistic, I mean, the Chiefs probably we’re going to give it to everybody here again. They’re hitting their stride. With Eric Bienemy and freaking Andy Reid and that creativity, they have also offensively and all those weapons like do, what are you going to do? There’s no way to stop it. And I think they would probably run the table again next year until, you know, they break up that offensive chemistry. I’m just being honest.
