News; During an interview on the NFL Network

Here's a revelation that ought to help Chad Ochocinco shed the label of being a "Me First" kind of player.

During an interview on the NFL Network, Ochocinco was asked to explain his miserable 2008 season -- the worst, statistically, of his career aside from his 2001 rookie campaign. His answer not only explained Ochocinco's struggles, but also went a long way to providing some reasoning for his sudden and lingering injury issues last year.

"I'm not even going to lie to you, I'm going to say it. Last year, the offseason, I didn't lift one weight, I didn't run one route, I didn't exercise. I didn't do nothing because my focus was on getting out of a situation I didn't want to be in. I'm not going to lie," Ochocinco said.

"And the result of my season, whether we as a team did bad or not, that's what I get. I get hurt in the preseason. I didn't lift no weights. If I had been on my right regiment, I guarantee you my collarbone, my shoulder wouldn't pop out of place. The ankle surgery, you know."So, to summarize: For a little less than $4 million last season, Ochocinco returned exactly zero effort. If that doesn't scream professionalism, I don't know what does.

You can't exactly hold it against Ochocinco for not being thrilled with the situation in Cincinnati last year. (Random question: When you reference past activities of someone who's undergone a name change, do you use their new name or their old name)

The Bengals finished 4-11-1, they started the year 0-8 and had a pretty incompetent group replacing Carson Palmer at quarterback -- sorry, Ryan Fitzpatrick.

But come on. If you don't want to try for your team, your fans and your organization, how about a little pride? You can't think that you're the greatest receiver in the league, then put up 53 catches for 540 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers put Ochocinco (or is it Johnson?! I'm so confused!!!) just ahead of Dustin Keller's 535 receiving yards and just behind Dennis Northcutt's 545. Impressive company.

We'll have to see what 2009 holds for Chad -- he skipped all the Bengals' voluntary offseason workouts, but promised to show up for minicamp. Whether he picks up a weight or catches a ball in that time, only Ochocinco knows.