Chad Ochocinco changing name back to Chad Johnson

February 09, 2012|By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff

Chad Ochocinco speaks to the media before the Super Bowl. Ochicinco plans to change his name back to Chad Johnson, according to reports. (Mark Humphrey / AP photo)

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff

Is it love, or is the joke not funny any more? Either way, this summer expect Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to drop his ubiquitous surname and revert to Chad Johnson, according to a report from TMZ.com.

Ochocinco intends to marry "Basketball Wives" girlfriend Evelyn Lozada. Whether she can stand being Evelyn Ochocinco is a matter up for debate, according to the report, but the receiver has told friends he'll change his name back to Johnson to avoid any issues.

He changed his name in 2008 while a member of the Cincinnati Bengals much to the chagrin of the league. It was his attempt to poke fun at the humorless NFL while equally branding himself as star wide receiver that could simply be known by his jersey number in Spanish. (Yes, this despite 85 translates to ochenta y cinco in Español.)