The receiver addressed the media yesterday for the first time since he officially became a member of the Patriots on Friday via a trade with the Bengals.
His comments seemed tempered as he spoke softly about arriving in “heaven’’, thanked the fans of Cincinnati, and declared he is open to doing things differently with his new team.
“I will always be me,’’ Ochocinco said. “It has been a part of my game to always be me, but there is a certain way the Patriots do it and it’s easy for me. I’ve always been a chameleon, so I am going to blend in and do it the Patriot way, which is win. I think Bill [Belichick], we had our talk, and without him even having to saying anything - there is no need for some of the stuff I did before. There’s no need for it.’’
Ochocinco’s personality isn’t the norm for the Patriots locker room, but Belichick said everyone doesn’t have to be the same.
“I think every player on this team, every person on this team, has their own individual personality,’’ Belichick said. “None of us are the same, so that’s probably a good thing.
There was some of Ochocinco’s personality on display yesterday. He seemed appreciative of tight end Aaron Hernandez giving him No. 85. Hernandez said he knew the issue might come up.
“As soon as he came in, I saw him smiling,’’ Hernandez said. “I knew he was going to talk to me about the number. I already knew as soon as they took him that there was a chance he would want the number. I obviously could have been like, ‘No, I don’t want to give it up,’ but I’m not that type of person.’’
Hernandez wore No. 81 while at the University of Florida, which wasn’t available his rookie year (Randy Moss), so he was more than happy to go back to his old number. He swapped numbers with rookie receiver Jeremy Ross, who now will wear No. 82.
“I thought [Ochocinco] may look better and play better in 85 since that’s his last name, so why not give it to him,’’ Hernandez said.
There may be a reward coming Hernandez’s way.
