Don't Spare Us, Chad

Tell Us What You Really Think

Sometimes you wish Chad Ochocinco would come out of his shell.

You wish he would loosen up a little.

You wish he weren't just another corporate NFL drone in a helmet and shoulder pads afraid to speak his mind.

I say this because in a conference call Wednesday with the Baltimore news media, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver shared some, uh, thoughts on what the Ravens can expect from the former Chad Johnson when they play the Bengals on Sunday:

* He's going to hit Ray Lewis right in the mouth if he gets a chance, even though he loves the big lug and considers him a mentor and "spiritual father."

* The entire Ravens defense is going to "kiss the baby," which is Ochocinco-speak for "it's over," which is what'll happen when he abuses them.

* He's going to score a touchdown. And he already has his end-zone celebration planned: the fire scene from "Talladega Nights," in which Ricky Bobby freaks out after a crash and thinks he's engulfed in flames and does a stop, drop and roll.

* He wants to box Terrell Suggs. And he says of the Pro Bowl Ravens linebacker: "I just know in the ring, I can embarrass him. I'll put Terrell to sleep."

Yeah, if only it weren't always "No comment, no comment" from Ochocinco.

All this, of course, is in addition to the Twitter wars he has going with Ravens cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth, which basically consist of trash-talking in digital bursts of 140 characters or fewer.

In fact, with all the twittering Ochocinco has been doing, you wonder how he has any time to devote to his day job.

So what are we to make of Ochocinco's antics as the suddenly resurgent Bengals - 3-1, where did these guys come from? - take on the Ravens this weekend?

Depends on your point of view, I guess.

If you're one of these football fans who views each game as a holy war that has to be conducted a certain way, by the book, you can't stand this guy.

But if you think this is pretty funny stuff from a guy who's a refreshing breath of fresh air in a league that seems determined to beat the individuality out of its players, you love him.

Me, I still think of pro football as entertainment, pure and simple.

And Ochocinco, for all his knucklehead behavior on and off the field during his nine-year career, is a pure entertainer.

The guy makes me laugh. And how can that ever be bad for you?