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Chad Ochocinco to tryout with Sporting KC

Manager Peter Vermes invites star NFL wide receiver for four-day trial period

Sporting Kansas City has invited National Football League star Chad Ochocinco to Kansas City next week for a four-day tryout with the Major League Soccer club. Following the tryout, set to begin on Tuesday, Sporting Kansas City will determine whether to extend the trial period.

Ochocinco, a soccer player growing up and active supporter of the sport, has earned six NFL Pro Bowl selections in his 10-season NFL career and is well known for his media-friendly personality.

"We're always searching for players who can help our team and bringing in new talent,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “We know that Chad is an exceptional athlete and that he loves the sport of soccer, and he did play a lot when he was younger. We're excited to see how his skills will translate once he arrives next week and begins training with our team."

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Marvin Lewis was less than complimentary when asked about Ochocinco’s tryout this week with Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC.

Said Lewis: “How does he do at anything? What has he ever done that he’s completed? What circle has he ever connected in any way?”

Ochocinco took exception to Lewis’ latest comments, retweeting two criticisms that an online columnist made about Lewis.

“Marvin Lewis won’t say anything bad about Carson Palmer, stays kissing his (butt) but disses Ochocinco daily,” Ochocinco re-tweeted. “Carson Palmer has given a big (go away) to Marvin Lewis, but Lewis steadily says how wonderful he is. Makes Lewis a hypocrite.”

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Reality Check

Humble Ochocinco finds the going rough in Day 1

Sporting Kansas City welcomed Ochocinco here to their Swope Park Training facility on Wednesday for the first day of a four-day trial in which the outspoken NFL wide receiver will try to shake off the rust and live his dream of playing soccer at an elite level.

And despite being eased into things, even Ochocinco acknowledged he was nowhere near the level of the other players with whom he was sharing the field.

“The only thing I’m probably good at is just being fast as hell,” Ochocinco said, surrounded by a mass of cameras, microphones and recorders. “That’s about it right now. To play this game there is an art to it, a skill to it. That skill takes a long time to perfect and master.

“That’s why they call it the beautiful game,” he added. “I’ve missed all that time, but I’ll see what ways I can contribute.”

With fans in Cincinnati Bengals No. 85 jerseys watching from behind a chain link fence and the press contingent out in full force to document the festivities, Ochocinco warmed up with the team before receiving some one-on-one instruction from assistant coach Zoran Savic.

He also played right forward for the reserves in a full-sided game.

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Almost as dumb as the name 'Sporting KC'.

VIDEO: Day two of tryout - Ellis, Bunbury & Ochocinco analyze today's session
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Ochocinco to see field with SKC reserves

NFL WR's trial extended as reward for improvement, hard work


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Turns out the Ochocinco experiment will go on for a few more days at least.

Chad Ochocinco’s trial with Sporting Kansas City was scheduled to end on Saturday, technically the final day of his original four-day stint. But the club announced Friday that the Bengals' wide receiver will play in a Reserve Team game against the Kansas City Brass on Monday.

“We felt he earned that right,” assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin said in a phone interview as Sporting prepared to board a plane to Chicago for Saturday's match against the Fire (4 pm ET, TeleFutura). “We’re not expecting the world or that he will come in and make a huge impact right off the bat, but he warranted that at the least.”

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Grizalltheway wrote:Almost as dumb as the name 'Sporting KC'.

better than the KC Wiz...

Ochocinco: KC appearance a "dream answered"

NFL wide receiver plays in 30 minutes in Sporting's reserve match

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It wasn’t the Bernabéu, and his teammates weren’t Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaká. But it was more than good enough for Chad Ochocinco.

Ochocinco concluded his sixth, and what could be final, day training with Sporting Kansas City on Monday, playing 45 minutes of a reserve game alongside a group of Sporting juniors, reserves and trialists at the club’s Swope Park training facility.

“I’m satisfied,” he said. “My dream has been answered — to be able to come onto the pitch and play for an MLS team. It doesn’t have to be against someone professional. Just to be out here was enough for me.”

He may yet get the opportunity to continue living that dream, albeit likely without a professional contract.

Manager Peter Vermes said he would meet with Ochocinco on Tuesday to discuss the trial and his future with the team. The mercurial wide receiver readily admitted he was nowhere close to being able to play soccer at a professional level but said he would certainly be open to training with the team given the opportunity until the NFL’s CBA situation came to a conclusion.

“Why sit at home?” Ochocinco said. “It’s a lockout. Let’s just keep on working until it gets resolved.”

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