The New England Patriots grabbed a lot of headlines before the start of the NFL season, trading for Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco on the same day. Both are high-profile players, but some wondered just what they could contribute to the perennial playoff contenders.
Turns out, not too much. At least for Haynesworth, who was cut Tuesday. Ochocinco has been a nonfactor, but at least he's still a member of the team.
The Haynesworth experiment ended after just half a season, during which the defensive lineman had just three tackles and no sacks in six games. His last play with the team came Sunday when he was blocked out of the way on a 10-yard touchdown run by New York Giants' Brandon Jacobs.
"I'll just say this on the Albert situation: I thought that both he and myself -- speaking for the staff -- we really tried to make it work," Coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday. "He had a few physical limitations to overcome when he got here, but I thought he really tried to do what we asked him to do. We tried to work with him. In the end, it just didn't work out. I think the best thing we could do was just move on."
No idea whether Ochocinco is on the chopping block or not, but he doesn't seem to be much use to the team at this point. He hasn't had a catch in the last three games and has just nine receptions for 136 yards and no touchdowns all year.
He was targeted five times by quarterback Tom Brady against the Giants, and all five passes fell incomplete. Still, it might be a positive sign of sorts for the veteran receiver -- at least Brady acknowledged his existence. Only one pass came Ochocinco's way in the previous two games combined.
Overall, it seems pretty safe to say that those who considered the acquisitions of Haynesworth and Ochocinco to be rather pointless were right. Except for all the headlines those trades garnered -- maybe that was the point in the first place.
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-- Chuck Schilken
Left photo: Albert Haynesworth. Credit: Stew Milne / Associated Press
Right photo: Chad Ochocinco. Credit: Don Wright / Associated Press
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