The New England Patriots on Thursday worked out a trade with Cincinnati to acquire wide receiver Chad Ochocinco for two late-round draft picks, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Chad Ochocinco, who had one year and $6 million left on his Bengals contract, reportedly agreed to a new three-year deal to facilitate the trade to New England.
The six-time Pro Bowler had not been shy in relaying his fondness for New England head coach Bill Belichick, saying last year Belichick "has a lot of respect for me in my game and I have a lot of respect for him in everything he's done as a coach.
"We just became really close and fond of each other's work," Ochocinco added. "He's one that I look up to tremendously, one that I've never played for, but I show the same respect as if he was my own head coach."
Belichick reciprocated the sentiment saying, "I like his enthusiasm and the fun he has with football, and I like how he competes on the football field. I have a lot of respect for that. [We're] an odd couple, but in the end I think we have a lot of things in common."
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who was involved in a few verbal spats with Ochocinco last season that bordered on the playful to downright serious, gave his two cents in January on the chances of his veteran receiver getting shipped off to New England.
"Belichick's smarter than that," Lewis said, drawing a laugh from the two or three reporters in attendance.
Whether the Patriots coach is not as smart as Lewis believed remains to be seen. But with quarterback Tom Brady gaining a veteran weapon in the 33-year-old Ochocinco and New England coming to terms earlier in the day with former All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, teams in the AFC have to be worried about the Patriots' prospects in 2011.
Shortly after news broke on the trade, Ochocinco, who is rarely short of words, wrote "God is so Good" on his Twitter account.
In 10 seasons with Cincinnati, Ochocinco has amassed a 10,783 receiving yards -- the most in franchise history. He also leads the Bengals' organization in career receptions and touchdowns.