So, what do we call Ochocinco now? Huit Cinq-o? Quatre Vingt Cinq-o?
Yes, the Montreal Alouettes actually signed former NFL star Chad Johnson, and you know what? It’s a great thing for the CFL.
The nine-team, three-down league chalk full of rouges in all their glory, is viewed by many as a little brother in the professional sports world — often scoffed at and dismissed. The fact the Alouettes are taking a chance on a player like Johnson, who hasn’t played since 2011 and is known more for his off-field antics these days, is certainly fuel for cynics to mock it.
At the end of the day, if nothing else, this generates interest in a league that far too often gets overshadowed by the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA in this country.
There’s no doubt the Als will sell some extra jerseys, but any notion that adding Johnson is gimmicky can be thrown out the window. New head coach Tom Higgins, general manager Jim Popp and the entire Alouettes franchise are not about gimmicks or publicity stunts.
Although, the creative marketing has already begun.
The fact “Chad Johnson” was a trending topic in Canada for several hours Thursday shows that people are at least intrigued by the whole thing.
Not only that, but the signing will generate a lot of attention south of the border. The 36-year-old was one of the NFL’s biggest stars and headline makers for years and although he has been out of the game, fans are still interested in him.
Major American outlets will follow Johnson’s progress with the Als, giving the league added exposure. In fact, Johnson’s presence won’t be the only Alouettes storyline an American audience will be interested in this season.
Should Johnson make the final roster, he’d likely be catching balls from Troy Smith, a former NFL backup and the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner. Smith should be the team’s go-to quarterback in 2014 after being brought in last year and performing well. He took over as the team’s starter late last season, signed a contract extension in December and has a bright CFL future.
Johnson would also be playing alongside receiver Duron Carter, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter. Carter thrived as a rookie with the Als, racking up 909 receiving yards and five touchdowns in half a season. As a matter of fact, he’s a player that could soon find himself in the NFL.
Dating back to last year, the team has become accustomed to making headlines in the U.S. after hiring then quickly firing acclaimed college coach Dan Hawkins. Also, Montreal’s popular bench boss Marc Trestman was hired to coach the Chicago Bears and the future looks promising for that squad.
The CFL can be a springboard for young athletes to showcase their ability and perhaps one day move onto the far more lucrative NFL — defensive studs Cameron Wake, Jerrell Freeman and Brandon Browner are recent examples of this. But it’s also a place of second chances and that’s one aspect of the league that endears itself to fans.
We saw an example of this in 2006 when the Toronto Argonauts signed Ricky Williams to a one-year deal when the enigmatic running back was under NFL suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Williams didn’t accomplish too much on the field prior to a broken arm causing an end to his season, but it shone a spotlight on the team and league; you still see No. 27 Williams jerseys at Argos games all these years later.
There is still a great deal that needs to unfold before we can officially call Johnson a CFL player. Considering the Als have a solid receiving corps featuring the likes of Carter, Jamel Richardson and S.J. Green, it’s not a certainty Johnson will even make the final roster.
“It’s just football. It’s football,” Johnson told reporters earlier this week while working out in Vero Beach, Fla. “It’s not about Montreal. It’s about the opportunity to be able to play football again, something I love.”
Johnson clearly still has a passion for the game and the CFL affords him the opportunity to continue doing what he loves. That’s a positive thing for all parties involved.
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