The receiver once known as Ochocinco will spend part of training camp with the Cleveland Browns working with the team's wideouts.
Chad Johnson knows Cleveland coach Hue Jackson from his days with the Bengals, so he reached out to Jackson. Jackson agreed that Johnson could come in for part of camp. He will not be part of the team's coaching staff, but instead will work as a quasi-guest instructor.
Johnson had posted on Twitter that he could help receivers run better routes. When asked if he knew statistics, a barb toward the Browns bent toward analytics, Johnson responded this way:
I don't know statistics but I can show you how to get open regardless of coverage. https://t.co/yJ3ReUIR9t
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 11, 2016
Johnson tweeted Tuesday morning that he was going to ask Jackson for a job, but he also reached out indirectly to Jackson on Twitter in March.
@Browns Can you ask Hue if I can come in & work with the receivers, thanks.
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) March 10, 2016
Johnson spent 11 years in the NFL, 10 with the Bengals. He retired after the 2011 season with 766 receptions, 11,059 yards, 67 touchdowns, and almost as many creative touchdown celebrations. He will be working with an inexperienced group, with Andrew Hawkins, 30, the most experienced of those who have played. Four receivers were drafted by the Browns in April.
Johnson is not the only former player who will help during camp. Former Browns running back Earnest Byner will work with the backs. Byner, who was a major part of the documentary "Believeland" about Cleveland sports, worked with the backs in the offseason as well.
