Chad Ochocinco's run with Sporting Kansas City isn't done just yet. Though he wasn't offered a contract, the team announced he was offered a position as an "honorary member" of the team. Basically, he'll be training with them during the lockout but won't have an official contract on the team.
Ochocinco has been thrilled with his time in soccer, even if it wasn't always pretty. Via Randy Covitz of the KC Star:
"I just played in a match for a professional soccer team," Ochocinco said. "It doesn't get any better than that. What is everybody else (in the NFL) doing? ... I've seen two people get in trouble with the law ... I'm playing soccer. ... I can get better, stay fit, continue to stay active instead of being home on my butt."
Say what you want about Ochocinco but the guy works hard and stays out of trouble, which not all NFL players can say. He's fun to be around and creates an atmosphere that players enjoy. His coaches enjoy him as one assistant coach told me he was surprised at how willing to learn and to work he was.
"He's been a pleasure to have here," Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes said. "He's progressed in the days he's trained with us. We feel his stay here has been so good in so many ways that we offered him an opportunity to continue to work on his fitness while he's waiting for the lockout to finish, and we made him an honorary member of Sporting Kansas City. He has been fantastic in all ways. In the locker room with the guys, and just with the staff and everyone else, it's been a real pleasure."
He left Kansas City and headed back to Miami for a few days before returning next week to continue training.
So get ready for an Ochocinco summer, Kansas City. For more on Sporting Kansas City, check out the informative The Daily Wiz.