Four-time All-Pro NFL Wide Receiver Chad Johnson – AKA Ochocinco – is best known for his 10 seasons as a star for the Cincinnati Bengals. Sunday night though he’ll be in Foxborough for a matchup between the other two NFL teams he represented – the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
Johnson won’t be in attendance as any other fan. Instead he’s here working his post-NFL career, as a Ratings Adjustor. Johnson uses his football experience to work with the game’s developers as they try to keep players’ skills updated week-to-week.
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Prior to working with Madden, Johnson spent his final full NFL season with the Patriots, who acquired him in a trade just ahead of 2011 training camp for a fifth- and sixth-round pick. He ended up in a limited role, catching 15 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown in 16 regular season games. The Patriots made the playoffs that year, and Johnson had one catch for 21 yards in the postseason before the Patriots lost in Super Bowl XLVI to the New York Giants.
Not only did Johnson play with Tom Brady and for Bill Belichick, but he was also with the team during Bill O’Brien’s first stint as offensive coordinator. Before Sunday night’s game, he discussed his experience working with all three, as well as his time in New England and his new role with Madden. Here’s a look at what he had to say – with the full audio version of the interview below to listen.
On being back in New England and his time with the Patriots
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 1: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the New England Patriots completes a drill before a game with the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Alex Barth: “How does it feel to be back visiting a team you played for?”
Chad Johnson: “It feels good to be back. I’m happy to be here. I think I’ll get a little bit more work done here this time than I did last time I was here. But obviously that experience, being in Foxborough, being under the tutelage of [Tom] Brady and [Bill] Belichick man was amazing. It was a really good experience and I think everybody in the world should be able to experience what it’s like to play, for this regime.”
His best Tom Brady story
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: New England Patirots President Jonathan Kraft, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft clap as former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates during a ceremony honoring Brady at halftime of New England’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
AB: “Do you have a favorite Tom Brady story, either from being his teammate or playing against him?”
CJ: “Favorite Tom Brady story? When I was here, it was all business. I’m just being serious. It was all business that year. Obviously, that’s the year we went to the Super Bowl and lost to the Giants. Outside of that, I don’t really have any good Tom Brady stories outside of the fact that nobody ever got to see the real Tom Brady here in Boston until he went to Tampa. That is when he was able to relax, exhale and be himself. Does that make sense?”
AB: “Yeah, like you’re talking about an away from the game kind of thing?”
CJ: “That, away from the game, and the social media presence, the jokes, the funny, just being – allowing the world to see a different side of him that he really didn’t showcase here, if that makes sense.”
On Bill O’Brien
Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien directs the office on a drill during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
AB: “You were here with Bill O’Brien, who’s back…”
CJ: “Bill! F***ing love Bill. Is he here? That means he’s going to be on the field then, right? ”
AB: “He’s the offensive coordinator now.”
CJ: “I can’t f***ing wait to see Bill. Bill was really cool. Really cool. I f***ing love him. Cursed a lot. Now, that was right up my alley. He cursed a lot. And that was right up my alley as far as coaching is concerned. And Coach Bill is one of those coaches that reminded me of my Little League coaches in Miami and the way they coach. They coach hard and and they respected more out of you. And that was, that was dope.”
AB: “Fans are all excited about him turning the offense around after last year. What can you tell us about his offense especially like what he commands of a wide receiver?”
CJ: “I mean, obviously it commands a lot. And that year, and the years that he were here, you understand that it commands a lot because the receivers have always been very productive. I think during my time, and my tenure here, it was very short. It was short lived, obviously. And I think what I didn’t get is, I didn’t get the offseason program and I didn’t get a chance to really integrate myself and submerge myself into the offense as much as I would have liked to be somewhat efficient, and so I could have given the Pats fans the old Chad that we were used to seeing and having fun and being very productive. But other than that, I still enjoyed it and understood what it took to be a part of this offense and be successful.”
AB: “It’s interesting you say that about the offseason program because – I don’t know if you’ve seen what’s going on with Juju Smith-Schuster. It’s reported he’s like out of the top rotation of pass catchers after he missed the spring with an injury. Can you relate to that and where maybe is he at at this point?”
CJ: “I’m not sure where he is. I don’t really know what’s going on that much as far as this organization concerned because I’m on the outside looking in. But I know it’s difficult. Just as someone that got here late when the trade happened. Like, there’s so much time that I missed that I really needed to build that chemistry and get that rapport with Brady. But I didn’t have that.”
On working with Madden
Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Former NFL player Chad Ochocinco Johnson looks on prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
AB: “How’d you get into working with Madden, and working on the ratings?”
CJ: “I think just the simple fact that I’ve been a gamer, I’m a huge gamer, I’ve been a huge advocate for Madden itself. I play the game, obviously, religiously at times. There were times where I would compete in tournaments with some of the pros, and so it just made sense. It just made sense. You know, with today’s players, there’s no better player that they can, they can relate to or gravitate to than myself. So it just – it was a perfect union for me to be in this position and explain to the players that are upset about their ratings, “I’ll tell you the truth, I will tell you exactly why you are and you can’t see I don’t know the game of football because I actually played it at a very high level for a long time.” So, I mean, it just it just made sense. Perfect, perfect marriage.”
AB: “I have to ask you about one rating in particular, because Patriots fans were not happy when Rhamondre Stevenson got an 80 overall. How does he get that up?”
CJ: “I think he has to – consistency. It’s pretty easy. Getting your rating up for any player, it all goes into being consistent. And not consistent week in and week out, but being consistent where you’re facing your best opposition at that position.”
AB: “What are you looking for tonight? Do you go in looking for anything in particular? Or is it just you’re seeing what you see?”
CJ: “Tonight, I will be looking at some of the top players that played extremely well Week 1. More skill position too. Some of the players that played extremely well Week 1 and seeing if they continue that same level of consistency and production in Week 2.”
AB: “Does that include Mac Jones?”
CJ: “That includes Mac Jones. Oh, yeah. That includes Mac.”
