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Chad Ochocinco is known to be different. When everyone goes right, Ochocinco usually goes far to the left.

That is why it's no surprise that Ochocinco showed his sincere and heartfelt support for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. The New England Patriots receiver is one of the few players -- at least publicly -- who backs Goodell 100 percent after a rough year that included a lengthy lockout, increased fines, the bounty scandal and high-profile deaths that may be linked to football-related injuries.

The NFL is booming. But this is an unprecedented time of dissension between current and former players and the league office. The league is facing various lawsuits. Goodell also is tweaking the game -- some believe too much -- in the name of safety. Many players disagree with his methods or motives, or both.

Ochocinco addresses many of those issues in his letter to Goodell, whom Ochocinco refers to as a father figure.

"You are in one big [expletive] catch-22 and quite frankly, I am not sure there is any solution," Ochocinco wrote. "One thing I think can help is killing the NFL PR machine."

Goodell is stern, corporate and to the point. Ochocinco is boisterous and playful. Yet the two always got along, despite several fines Ochocinco has received over the years.

Do not expect many players to follow Ochocinco and write emotional letters in support of Goodell. Right or wrong, Ochocinco is on an island when it comes to player support of Goodell.

Perhaps the end of Ochocinco's letter was most pertinent for Patriots fans. According to Ochocinco, he will have a bounce-back year and plans to do a lot of touchdown celebrations in 2012. Ochocinco scored just one touchdown all last year.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady spent time with teammate Wes Welker last weekend at the Kentucky Derby. Between the schmoozing and excitement of horse racing, Brady should have given his top receiver a subtle message and said, "Buddy, it's time to get back to work."

There is one thing for certain about the Patriots: You do not fight the machine. Welker is facing an uphill battle he cannot win. Many have tried before him and failed. Welker is not the exception.

Welker has yet to sign his franchise tender and hasn't decided how long he's going to protest New England's one-year, $9.5 million offer. The potential distraction has been held to a minimum thus far. But it would only grow stronger if Welker continues to skip New England's offseason program.

The Patriots' mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 12. The best advice is for Welker to have his mind made up by that time. Missing New England's current voluntary program is not a big thing. But if Welker also chooses to skip the Patriots' three-day veteran minicamp, that is when he's hurting the team in the eyes of the coaching staff.

At that point the gloves may come off with the Patriots -- and Welker doesn't want that.

New England is emotionless and shrewd in negotiations. Just ask three-time Super Bowl winner Willie McGinest, who apparently still carries some level of bitterness about how he was handled by the Patriots at the end of his career. McGinest recently got into a Twitter spat with Welker about his contract situation and delivered this stern message.

"We're all expendable at Patriot Place," McGinest tweeted to Welker.

McGinest is right. NFL players in general are expendable, but even more so in New England.

Welker needs to be more mindful of how Patriots players often are treated like replaceable and interchangeable parts. It happened to McGinest, who spent the final three years of his career with the struggling Cleveland Browns. It happened to Richard Seymour, who was great for eight seasons with the Patriots and suddenly shipped to the Oakland Raiders for a first-round draft pick. The Patriots also traded future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings when Moss grew unhappy about his contract.

Welker should know better. No one player is above the team in New England. That is the Patriot Way.

This is not to say Welker hasn't worked hard and doesn't have a point about long-term security. This is more about wisely navigating the cruel business side of the NFL. It's all about leverage. Welker has little. New England has plenty. Sometimes it's best to accept your fate and move forward.

Welker remains steadfast in shedding the franchise tag for a long-term contract.

"Through my body of work, through the past five years, I think what I've done I've earned a long-term deal,” Welker recently told ESPN Boston Radio. "It's what I am looking for and what I want. Hopefully that's the case and hopefully we come to something where we can make that happen."

Do not think for one second that New England is not prepared for the worst. All the Patriots have done this offseason is sign wide receivers.

New England signed receivers Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Gonzalez and Donte’ Stallworth in free agency. All are productive veterans who have a chance to add something to the offense. The Patriots also re-signed veteran Deion Branch, backup Matthew Slater, and drafted rookie receiver Jeremy Ebert. Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman also remain on the roster.

New England will have an elite passing game next season with or without Welker.

If Welker decides to stage a lengthy holdout, Lloyd and Gaffney would be the starters, while Branch, Gonzalez, Stallworth and Ochocinco compete in training camp for backup roles. New England also runs a lot of two tight-end sets with Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. This is still a very deep and talented group of targets for Brady, who also has a knack for making everyone around him a couple of notches better.

Despite 122 receptions and 1,569 yards last year, the Patriots have found a way to make Welker replaceable. But that's only if Welker chooses to be and doesn't sign his franchise tender.

There's always a chance the Patriots could have a change of heart between now and August. New England has the salary-cap room to extend the 31-year-old Welker and give him the long-term security he's seeking. But it's going to be on the Patriots' terms, not Welker's.

The next move should be the best move by Welker. He should sign the franchise tag, take the $9.5 million and see if anything changes over the next several months at Patriot Place.

The Cincinnati Bengals enjoyed the most successful free agency period of any team in the division. The Bengals were applauded by many experts for being among the big winners in the NFL draft.

The question everyone in Who Dey Nation wants answered is how much ground have the Bengals made up on the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. But that's the wrong question to be asking.

Whether or not the Bengals return to the playoffs isn't about their division rivals. It's about whether this franchise can finally handle success.

The Bengals haven't put together back-to-back winning seasons since 1981-82. To put that into perspective, those were the years when Ronald Reagan was beginning his first term as president, a gallon of gas was going for $1.30 and Marvin Lewis was starting his coaching career at Idaho State.

This doesn't mean Cincinnati has struggled every year. The Bengals have been to the playoffs three times since 2005, the same amount as the Cowboys and one fewer than the Packers over that span. The problem has been following up that success. An AFC North title in 2005, and an 8-8 season in 2006. Another division title in 2009, and a 4-12 season in 2010.

There are few connections to this year's Bengals team and the 2010 one. Only seven players remain starters from Team Ochocinco & T.O., and Andy Dalton, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Thomas Howard had nothing to do with that disaster of a reality show from two years ago. A.J. Green is still A.J. Green ... and not A.J. Verde.

Momentum has clearly been on the Bengals' side since they drafted Dalton and Green last year. Cincinnati went from the NFL's worst team at the start of the 2011 season --according to the ESPN power rankings -- to a playoff one. With the second-most salary cap room in the NFL, the Bengals then used free agency to not only fill holes but upgrade those positions. It was a methodical approach that avoided the pricey big names like Carl Nicks, Robert Meachem and Cortland Finnegan. The theme was solid moves instead of splashy ones.

They signed Green-Ellis, an all-around running back and touchdown machine, to replace Cedric Benson. They added left guard Travelle Wharton, a strong run blocker, to take over for Nate Livings. That should boost a team that ranked 30th in the NFL in yards per rush (3.3) and tied for 21st in touchdown runs (three).

Cincinnati didn't ignore the defense, signing six former first-round picks. The Bengals kept their free-agent priority, safety Reggie Nelson, beating out the New York Jets for him. Cincinnati then added three cornerbacks (Jason Allen, Adam Jones and Terence Newman) and two defensive linemen (Jamaal Anderson and Derrick Harvey).

In the draft, the Bengals landed the best zone cornerback (Dre Kirkpatrick), top run-blocking guard (Kevin Zeitler), the 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Devon Still), a top-rated tight end (Orson Charles) and two promising wide receivers (Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones).

"You don’t win games on paper and that's what we have to realize, starting with me," Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth told the team's website. "We've got to be better. This looks like a good class. But the rookies know it's going to come down to what they do and how they prepare and how they go after it."

This team is clearly better than last year's one. The expectations, though, are higher. The pressure will be on to finish better than last year's record of 9-7. The pressure will be on to win the division.

The Ravens lost the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the start of the season (Terrell Suggs) and likely won't have their running back in training camp (Ray Rice isn't expected to sign his franchise tag anytime soon). The Steelers could be without their starting running back (Rashard Mendenhall) and nose tackle (Casey Hampton) for the first six weeks of the season and lost long-time leaders (Hines Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith) in their salary-cap purge.

While the Bengals have question marks at the No. 2 wide receiver spot and strong safety, the gap is significantly smaller between the traditional AFC North powers and Cincinnati this year. The Bengals return a Pro Bowl quarterback and wide receiver in Dalton and Green. They bring back a defense that ranked seventh in yards allowed (316.3) and nine in points given up (20.2). This team isn't lacking in talent or chemistry in the locker room, just a proven track record.

The biggest challenge for these young Bengals is beating the best. Cincinnati went 9-0 against non-playoff teams and 0-7 against teams who made the postseason. Maybe that's why the Bengals are ranked No. 16 in the post-draft ESPN power rankings, which is eight spots lower than what they finished last season.

There's going to be doubters, especially for a franchise that has gone three decades without consecutive winning seasons. But, based on what they accomplished in free agency and the draft, these are the new and much improved Bengals. All they have to do is show they can handle the best teams in the NFL along with their own success.

If stadium news doesn't get your blood pumping, then perhaps ballroom dancing will float your boat on this fine Monday afternoon.

After years of begging, the NFC North finally has representation on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." We in the business call it "DWTS" for short. You will soon, because Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver is one of 12 celebrities paired with a dancing professional to compete in an elimination-style competition.

(For now, we'll skip over the possibility that Driver, 37, will not be a part of the Packers' roster in 2012. He's ours for now.)

Season 14 debuts Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on, yes, ABC. Tuesday night brings us the first results show of the season, from what I understand.

A total of 10 current or former NFL players have participated in DWTS, and Driver will be the fifth wide receiver after Jerry Rice, Hines Ward, Michael Irvin and Chad Ochocinco. He is paired with Peta Murgatroyd, a native of New Zealand whose previous celebrity dance credits include Ron Artest before he re-named himself Metta World Peace.

I haven't decided whether we'll actually do a DriverWatch, or perhaps a DWTSWatch, as this exciting drama unfolds. I do think it will be fun to see how Driver's personality plays on a national level, and we've seen enough fancy footwork from him to think he has a reasonable chance to, uh, dance well over the next few weeks. (Sorry, I don't know how the kids these days describe good dancing. "Getting down?" "Gettin' jiggy with it?" "Busting a move?" I'm a big "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" guy, but otherwise, I have no idea.)

For now, at least, consider this a public service announcement as you look for ways to fill your Monday (and Tuesday) nights until Monday Night Football returns in just a few short months.

The New England Patriots only had one weakness on offense last year: They couldn't get vertical and behind the defense.

Consider that problem solved Saturday, after the Patriots agreed to terms with veteran big-play receiver Brandon Lloyd. The move was expected for weeks, as Lloyd reunites with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The pair were very successful during their stint together with the Denver Broncos.

Lloyd joins a dangerous cast of receivers and tight ends that include Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker, Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski and up-and-coming tight end Aaron Hernandez. Lloyd averages 15.4 yards per reception for his career and gives future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady the deep threat he's been missing since Randy Moss. The Patriots' offense will be a matchup nightmare for opponents next season.

New England also has depth behind the starters with former Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman and newly-signed receiver Anthony Gonzalez. There may be a small question with the experience of New England's stable of running backs. But look for New England to air it out anyway to set up the run.

Lloyd is a typical Patriots free-agent signing. He was not the biggest name on the market, but Lloyd should be very productive.

New England no longer has to worry about any facet of its high-powered offense for 2012. Now, the Patriots can use the rest of their resources in free agency and the draft to focus on their 31st-ranked defense.

Man, do I get LaRon Landry questions. Washington Redskins fans want to know if they're bringing him back. Dallas Cowboys fans want to know if they should sign him to play safety. Philadelphia Eagles fans want to know if they're taking a look. The answers, best as I can tell, are as follows:

No, no and only if it's really cheap. Landry is an injured player, folks. And if there's an early market for his services, it's because some team is willing to take a very big risk.

I guess Landry has fans' attention because he's a big name. And in spite of the fact that memories only go back six days in the NFL, there are some images still stuck in people's brains about big plays Landry used to make once upon a time when he was a healthy player. Oh yeah, when he's on the field, there are few safeties in the league scarier than Landry. There is no doubting that.

But the reason he's on the market -- and the reason the Redskins are talking to people like Brandon Meriweather while Landry is trying to get visits to other places -- is that he can't get on the field, and the Redskins are sick of wondering from week to week whether they can count on him. Hampered by Achilles and groin injuries, Landry played in eight games for the Redskins in 2011, was credited with just 35 tackles, no passes defensed and no interceptions. That doesn't scream, "Pay me!!!," especially when he played in only nine games the year before. The Achilles is still hurt, and he has refused to have surgery to repair it, which makes him an injured player, which explains why he's not on some big, happy tour of various team sites and sifting through huge contract offers.

So if you're a Redskins fan, you ought to say goodbye. The current coaching staff has had enough of waiting for Landry to show them what he can do -- and that he can do it reliably over the course of a full season. They have moved on. They used their franchise tag on Fred Davis instead and are looking at other options for the secondary.

And if you're a Cowboys fan, don't get your hopes up. The Cowboys don't appear to be going the big-name, low-production route this year. They're targeting guys they like for their specific need positions, and Brodney Pool is the safety coming in for a visit today.

And if you're an Eagles fan, keep expectations low. Yes, it's possible they'd take a look at Landry, but only if his price remains very low and he's willing to come in on a short, make-good deal that pays off only if he plays and produces. The Eagles have talented young safeties who need to play and develop, and while they might be willing to take a chance on Landry's talent, they're unlikely to do so at the expense of their long-range plan.

This post by AFC East blogger James Walker Wednesday says the Patriots and the Jets have some interest in Landry. It mentions the Eagles, too, at the bottom, but those two AFC East teams feel like more likely destinations. Rex Ryan loves him a big name, even if the production no longer matches up. You could see him taking a shot. And the Patriots? Well, Landry would feel like a very Patriot move. I could just imagine them signing him, late in the market, to a low-guarantee, high-incentive deal and everybody saying, "Wow, that Bill Belichick may have got himself a steal right there." You know. Like they said last year when he got Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

Fact is, whoever signs Landry may get themselves a steal, if he can finally stay healthy and put together a full season. But at this point, on the third day of free agency, with so many other healthier options available, it's hard to see how it's worth the risk. For anybody.

Super Bowl Sunday is finally here. It's time to crown a new champion for the 2011-12 season.

Here are the most interesting Super Bowl stories Sunday morning in the AFC East:

• The New England Patriots were relaxed after their final preparations and walkthroughs for the New York Giants.

Morning take: The Patriots, as expected, act like they’ve been here plenty of times before. But I thought the team, and particularly coach Bill Belichick, was more relaxed than usual. We will see how this translates on the field.

• The Patriots also made a last-minute roster move. They cut receiver Tiquan Underwood on the eve of the Super Bowl.

Morning take: That's a tough pill to swallow for Underwood, who prepared with the team but won't get to play in the big game. This is also a sign that receiver Chad Ochocinco had a good series of practices.

• Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (ankle) walked without a limp at the team's photo shoot.

Morning take: Gronkowski will play. The question is at what percent? We will see tonight.

• The website of the Giants mistakenly announced that they already won the Super Bowl.

Morning take: Most experts are picking the Giants anyway, so this falls in line with that. I've been right about the Patriots all season and am sticking with that pick in the final game.

INDIANAPOLIS -- As displayed in his video documentary "A Football Life," New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick enjoys fishing in his free time. It's fitting, because in football Belichick is not afraid to cut bait.

Many players have come and gone in New England. Some have worked out better than others. But the culture of winning remains the same.

There are only seven players remaining from the Patriots' last Super Bowl team in 2007. In four years, nearly the entire roster has been remade into a championship contender.

Big-name players like Randy Moss, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison all left New England for various reasons. Some were released, retired, or traded and wound up on television.

You also have recent malcontent situations this past season such as former Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather and former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. Meriweather had off-the-field issues last season and surprisingly didn't make the 53-man roster. He landed with the Chicago Bears. Haynesworth was acquired in a big trade this summer and released about midway through the season.

Football is a cruel business. But it's particularly cruel in New England if you're underperforming and not buying into the program. You can multiply that by 10 if you're a malcontent.

"Most head coaches and GMs, they're never really willing to swallow their pride and admit that they made a mistake," former Patriots fullback and NFL Network analyst Heath Evans explained. "Bill just says 'Well, I thought we could fix [Haynesworth]. We couldn't. So bye-bye.' Most guys will sit there and hurt their team by allowing a cancer to infiltrate the system, the mindset, how you get something done. But Bill never hesitated.

"He saw enough. He gave [Haynesworth] enough chances and, boom, he's gone. That's an aspect of the structure and discipline. Bill doesn't care how it makes him look or what he's doing. He's going to do what's best for the team."

Haynesworth and Meriweather were cut because they no longer fit. Moss, Seymour and Vrabel were traded while the value was still high enough to get something for them. Belichick is always thinking about the next move.

Patriots starting receiver Deion Branch was fortunate.

The former Super Bowl MVP held out for more money during New England's training camp and the preseason in 2006, and was eventually traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick. Branch got the money he wanted. Seattle signed him to a $39 million extension. But Branch never had the same success in Seattle and was traded back to New England for a fourth-round pick in 2010.

Branch was a good teammate, but the holdout with New England left a bad stench. The Patriots showed they were willing to forgive, and now Branch is one of the veteran leaders of this year's team.

"I was very honored," Branch said. "Not many have the opportunity to come back to the same team that drafted you. Guys don't get the opportunity to go through that phase. I was just very thankful."

New England receiver Chad Ochocinco is an interesting case. He's caused issues in the past with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he's quickly -- and wisely -- bought into the "Patriot way."

Ochocinco only has 15 receptions, but fellow Patriots have described him as the model teammate. He accepted his role in New England, no matter how small it is, for the greater goal of trying to win a championship. Moss also caused problems elsewhere and quickly changed his stripes when coming to New England. The talkative Ochocinco received advice from Moss this season on how to handle the transition.

"I learned to shut the [expletive] up," Ochocinco said this week.

Why doesn't this work everywhere? Why isn't every NFL team selfless and without internal issues?

"I think it doesn't work everywhere, because everyone has to buy in. I mean coaches, players, front office and owner," said former NFL executive Michael Lombardi, who once worked with Belichick. "With the Patriots, everybody buys in from the top all the way through. It's a way of life in New England. It's not just a daily job."

According to veteran guard Brian Waters, star quarterback Tom Brady plays a major role with team chemistry. Brady is an extension of Belichick in the locker room. No one is more competitive and works harder than the team's highest-paid player.

"Everybody's got egos, everybody's got their own way of doing things or what they think is the best way of doing things," Waters said. "But to have a coach set the tone and a player follow the tone as good as Tom, it's hard for any player on your team to even think about having a different thought process. If the best player on your football team is buying in 100 percent, then who are you to be any different? That’s something you have an appreciation for."

Evans, who played with the Patriots from 2005-08, went on to tell a great story involving future Hall of Famer Junior Seau. He was a 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker who joined the Patriots late in his career in 2006.

"Junior Seau, when he first got there, I don't think Junior had ever been yelled at a day in his life, or maybe even coached," Evans recalled. "Junior was over the center, trying to time the snap count, and he must have jumped offsides three times in our first practice. So Bill had it all teed up -- 'the lowlight film' is what he called it. Everyday we had a lowlight reel, and you do not want to be on that lowlight reel, because 52 other players are watching your bad mistake.

"So Junior is there jumping offsides and Bill just goes into his rant. Junior is like, 'Is he really doing this to me?' It was to the point where Junior stood up and said 'Buddy' ... He couldn't believe Bill was giving him the business like that."

No one player is bigger than the team in New England. The Patriots have done a great job of consistently sending that message and getting rid of players who don't understand. It's resulted in another Super Bowl appearance Sunday against the New York Giants.

The 2011-12 Patriots are particularly close-knit. Owner Robert Kraft says it's arguably his favorite group since owning the team, and they are one game away from capping a special season.

"One thing I've learned is that many games are lost and won in the locker room before the game starts," Kraft said this week. "Now, they have to go out and execute [against New York]."

INDIANAPOLIS — Chad Ochocinco is the biggest disappointment on the New England Patriots team this season. He had 15 catches in 16 games. He scored uno touchdown.

If Ochocinco wanted to vent his frustration, he had the perfect stage at the Super Bowl's media day, even if his presence didn't warrant a podium. But Ochocinco was subdued and soft-spoken. You had to put your recorder right up to his face to even hear what he was saying.

This is not the Ochocinco from Cincinnati. He's not a distraction. He's not complaining about the lack of receptions or the lack of attention.

"If it was emotionally draining, I think I would have spoke out like I did in the past," Ochocinco said today. "I took this as a challenge, as a lesson. Will he be able to handle himself in different circumstances when he’s not that guy, if he’s not that main focal point? Will he be able to handle it? And I think I did extremely well.”

This is by far Ochocinco's worst season. In nine seasons with the Bengals (2002-10), he averaged 80 receptions per season and never caught fewer than 53 during that span.

Now, he's paired with one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history in Tom Brady and he's flopped.

One theory on why Ochocinco hasn't excelled in New England is because he hasn't been his flamboyant self. He can't be a star if he's not the life of the party.

But the real reason is that Ochocinco hasn't meshed in the Patriots' offense. He is an undisciplined route-runner who is a bad fit for the Patriots' "rule-based system," as former coach Eric Mangini described in this video.

Asked whether he would prefer 100 catches or a trip to the Super Bowl, he said, “I’d rather be right here. I’ve already put up all the numbers. I’ve already done that. It’s so much bigger than what everybody else is thinking about. They’re thinking about the individuals. If I would have been thinking like that, I would have got cut Week 3, complaining about the ball. It’s been a joy.”

Few Bengals would describe life with Ochocinco as being "a joy." Many talked about how the locker room got tighter without Ochocinco in it.

So, did Ochocinco detract from that last year?

"I think different guys are distractions in different ways," Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said earlier this month. "Not necessarily themselves, but the way they're handled, the way different things are done in the locker room, and like I said, for once we had a locker room that was tight, that was together and pulling in the right direction."

Ochocinco, however, looks back at his time with the Bengals fondly.

"Everything about that organization, that city, it was made me what I am today," he said. "The fans were awesome. Coach [Marvin] Lewis [was] like a dad.”

INDIANAPOLIS -- One year ago Chad Ochocinco was at Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl media day with a television crew and a microphone in hand. Working for the Ochocinco News Network, the receiver, then with the Cincinnati Bengals, approached Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers with puppy dog eyes.

"Man, what does this feel like?" Ochocinco said to a smiling Jennings at the podium. Jennings responded that being in the Super Bowl was the best feeling in sports.

Ochocinco was happy for Jennings but envious of his position. The 34-year-old receiver was still under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals and never won a playoff game. Time was running out to make it to the big stage, and Ochocinco realized he may never experience what Jennings was feeling at Super Bowl XLV.

Fast forward to Tuesday: One year later, Ochocinco is back at Super Bowl media day. This time he's finally a participant in Super Bowl XLVI with the AFC champion New England Patriots.

But the version of Ochocinco at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday was not what many expected. "Ochocinco 2.0" was quiet, humbled and almost shy about his Super Bowl experience.

"I'm learning, experiencing, becoming a sponge and learning the Patriot way," Ochocinco said in a low tone. "That's it."

Ochocinco claimed over the summer he made it to football heaven after the Patriots and Bengals agreed to a trade in exchange for a fifth-round pick in April and a sixth-round pick in 2013. But things haven't gone as planned for Ochocinco.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver was expected to bring big plays back to New England's offense. Instead, troubles fitting into a new scheme resulted in just 15 receptions for 276 yards this season. Ochocinco only played one snap in two playoffs game.

These are much different times for Ochocinco. The center of attention now lurks in the shadows, and the most surprising thing is he's fine with it. When asked what he learned about this season in New England, Ochocinco responded, "That I can shut the [expletive] up."

But you can see it in Ochocinco's face that he wishes he could do more to help the team. The Patriots are in the Super Bowl mostly without his contributions.

Yet, this week teammates applauded Ochocinco for his efforts. He was universally described as the model teammate and did everything that was asked of him. The results simply haven't showed on the field.

"He's been a true professional this year through and through," said Patriots receiver and team captain Matthew Slater. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I already did coming into the season. He's handled everything and the changes and all that. He's a true professional."

Added, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said, "He's trying to get better every week, and we have to see on Sunday. But I've been very, very proud to be associated with Chad. He's a good guy and he's accepted his role."

There was a large media gathering waiting for the entertaining and zany Ochocinco to show up. But he didn't bite.

Ochocinco was asked about his time in Cincinnati, not producing in New England, being in the Super Bowl for the first time. But Ochocinco seemed genuine in keeping the attention away from him and on the team, which is a change from previous years.

The flamboyant, outspoken receiver didn't even get his own podium for media day, which was a surprise.

Ochocinco didn't care.

"I don't really need my own podium. I have my own podium with my phone," Ochocinco said of his popular Twitter account. "I can reach three million people faster than anyone can here."

New England teammate Brian Waters understands Ochocinco's transition.

Waters, 34, also is a six-time Pro Bowler who joined the Patriots this summer. Waters spent his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs and, like Ochocinco, never won a playoff game. But Waters learned quickly that if you buy into the Patriot way of doing things, you will get results. Waters and Ochocinco combine for 23 years of NFL experience and both have a chance to win their first Super Bowl ring.

"There’s so many guys on this team individually that are stars in their own right -- I mean superstars in their own right," Waters explained. "Yet still, week after week, we see so many guys take the role that is given to them. Even if that weekly role is not being the star that week, they take it with pride."

So far the season has been a wash. But could Ochocinco have a chance at Super Bowl stardom? It seems like a pipe dream, based on his production. Yet stranger things have happened in this big game.

Ochocinco, who averaged less than one reception per game, may get playing time this week due to the left ankle injury of Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots run a base, two-tight end set on offense. But New England may need to run more three-receiver sets against the New York Giants if Gronkowski doesn't play or is limited this Sunday. Ochocinco has a chance to get reps with Julian Edelman as the third receiver if Ochocinco has a good week of practice.

Either way, Ochocinco is happy to be in his first Super Bowl regardless of his role Sunday.

"Some play their whole NFL career and never get to the big dance," Ochocinco said. "So many goals before that, I accomplished all those goals and this is the last one -- to get on this stage and have a chance to win a ring."

Ochocinco is finally in the big game, although not the way he envisioned it. But nothing has ever been conventional for the colorful receiver -- and that includes his 11-year journey to Super Bowl XLVI.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Chad Ochocinco spent $28,000 on gifts for his teammates, but the punchline is truly priceless.

The talkative wide receiver bought 70 pairs of noise-canceling headphones for his fellow New England Patriots, according to The Boston Herald. How many Cincinnati Bengals wished they had that over the past 10 years?

Ochocinco can certainly afford purchasing Beats By Dre headphones, which cost $400 each and were distributed before the team's flight to Indianapolis. He is making $3 million this season for the Patriots. Offensive lineman Nick McDonald posted a picture of them on his Twitter account.

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Final Power Ranking: 4
Preseason Power Ranking: 2

Biggest surprise: The Patriots found a surprise gem in defensive end Mark Anderson. He is playing on his third team in three years but found a home in New England. He tied Andre Carter for the team lead with 10 sacks. Anderson recorded only 8.5 sacks the past four seasons with the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. New England's offense scores a lot of points, which allows the defense to go after opposing quarterbacks trying to keep up. Anderson and New England's pass rush will be key to the Patriots making a Super Bowl run.

Biggest disappointment: There was a lot of fanfare with the offseason trade of former Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco. He was expected to make an impact and add big-play capability to New England's already high-powered offense. Instead, Ochocinco had trouble adjusting to his new surroundings early and never caught up. Ochocinco's season was a dud. He set new career lows with just 15 receptions for 278 yards and one touchdown. Most weeks the Patriots didn't need Ochocinco and he was largely ignored. He never caught more than two passes in a game.

Biggest need: The Patriots need secondary help in the worst way. It could come at safety and/or cornerback. New England set an NFL record for the most passing yards allowed in a season. Nearly every week the Patriots were carved up by opposing quarterbacks. Cornerback Devin McCourty had an awful sophomore slump. He needs to get better. The safeties underperformed and were decimated by injuries. The Patriots have two first-round picks and two second-round picks in April's NFL draft. They will have plenty of opportunities to add players who can make an impact.

Team MVP: There's no question about this one. New England quarterback Tom Brady threw for 5,000 yards for the first time in his career. He finished with 5,235 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Brady was the single biggest difference-maker of any player in the NFL, thus leading to my case for making him the league's Most Valuable Player. With Brady, New England is 13-3, won the AFC East and has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Without Brady, this is probably a five-win team with an awful defense and shaky quarterback play.

Free-agent watch: There is no bigger free agent on this team than receiver Wes Welker. He set a career high with 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns. His 122 receptions were the second-highest of his career. Welker is one of the league’s biggest free agents this offseason and a must-sign for the Patriots. Their offense isn't the same without him. New England has other decisions to make on lesser pending free agents like Carter and veteran receiver Deion Branch. Other than that, the Patriots are in good shape this year with free agency.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 10 in the AFC East:

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William Perlman/The Star-Ledger via US PresswirePatriots defensive end Andre Carter had 4.5 sacks against Mark Sanchez and the Jets on Sunday.
• The New England Patriots received a lot of press for making big-name acquisitions like Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. But New England's best offseason addition turned out to be an under-the-radar free agent. Veteran defensive end Andre Carter signed with the Patriots in August and didn't create many headlines. He was one of several defensive linemen added to the team for depth, which included Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis. But Carter is on a tear with the Patriots this season. He had 4.5 sacks in Sunday's important win against the New York Jets and is tied for fourth in the NFL with nine sacks. Carter is on pace to shatter his career-best total of 11 sacks from 2009.
• The Patriots have depth issues at several positions, but offensive tackle is not one of them. New England flexed its muscle at tackle against the Jets and didn't allow any sacks on quarterback Tom Brady. Left tackle Matt Light and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer got the start and played great, while rookie first-round pick Nate Solder was used as a sub in heavy packages and temporarily when Vollmer was hurt. Both Vollmer and Solder were questionable heading into the game. The Patriots also have a young offensive tackle on their practice squad in Matt Kopa who has potential. The second-year player from Stanford could be additional insurance if New England has any major injuries at the position.
• The Jets (5-4) are essentially two games back in the AFC East and could run into issues in the wild-card race. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head meetings, and the Jets lost to a pair of wild-card contenders in the Baltimore Ravens (6-3) and Oakland Raiders (5-4). New York has to hope the Ravens and Raiders win their divisions. The Jets also have to worry about the Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) and maybe the struggling Buffalo Bills (5-4). The Jets and Bills could have an elimination game in two weeks at the Meadowlands.
• Speaking of Buffalo, a lot of pressure now is on Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was paid $59 million to be the long-term solution and face of the franchise. Fitzpatrick is no longer a cute, surprising story. With the $10 million per year price tag comes high expectations for Fitzpatrick to consistently produce. It's poor timing for Fitzpatrick to play his worst football of the season. He's thrown for 337 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions the past two weeks. As a result, Buffalo has been outscored 71-18 in that span against the Jets and Dallas Cowboys. The bar has been raised and Fitzpatrick will get a lion's share of the blame when things don't go well. That's par for the course for other franchise quarterbacks around the league.
• Buffalo has a lot of issues defensively. But the biggest issue haunting the Bills is their lack of pass rush. Buffalo thought it fixed its pass-rush issues in Toronto after registering 10 sacks against the Washington Redskins. It was the second-most sacks in Bills history. But that proved to be a fluke. Buffalo has just one sack in its past two games, and quarterbacks are taking advantage. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was very comfortable in the pocket. He was 23 of 26 for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
• Is winning the best thing for the Miami Dolphins? Miami fans have to be torn about the Dolphins' two-game winning streak. The Dolphins are finally playing well. But it comes after the team has no pressure and no shot at the postseason. On the flip side, it's a virtual certainty Miami played itself out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The Indianapolis Colts (0-10) cannot win three of their final six games. Miami (2-7) also would have to lose its final seven games. That doesn't appear likely, either.
• Next week's game between Buffalo and Miami will be more interesting than expected. The AFC East blog will be covering that contest next week at Sun Life Stadium. I think this is a must-win game for Buffalo. The Bills are in the middle of their three-game road trip, and this is the most winnable one on their schedule. Miami, meanwhile, will have a lot of say in who wins the AFC East. The Dolphins have four division games remaining and seem to be relishing their "spoiler" role. Miami can put a huge dent in Buffalo's season next week.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For everyone who wrote off the New England Patriots after a rare, two-game losing streak, shame on you.

For those who thought Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was no longer capable of winning big games, shame on you, too.

For those who thought Patriots coach Bill Belichick couldn't find a way to improve the NFL's worst defense, how could you do such a thing?

I tried to warn you. Until further notice, the AFC East remains the "Brady and Belichick division." It's been that way for the past decade, as New England's power pair led the Patriots to eight division titles the past 10 seasons.

New England is well on its way to clinching its ninth division title in 11 seasons following Sunday night's convincing 37-16 victory over the New York Jets.

The Patriots essentially hold a two-game lead with seven games remaining. New England also has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. Barring an unexpected collapse, the Patriots will be adding another AFC East title to their collection and hosting a playoff game in January.

Even Jets coach Rex Ryan was willing to concede the division afterward.

"It looks doubtful right now," Ryan said candidly. "What am I going to say? Maybe I should guarantee the fact that we’re out of it. The last time I did that, we made the playoffs. Yeah, we don't have a chance."

Surprised? You shouldn't be. All you have to do is remember your history.

The Belichick and Brady-led Patriots always respond well to adversity. They like being the underdogs. They thrive on it.

New England also is a great team late in the season. The Patriots improved to 54-13 in the second half of the regular season since 2003.

This was the first time in years New England was being counted out. The Patriots had lost two straight, the defense was awful, and the Jets were the hot team and 4-0 at home.

The Patriots were being written off as has-beens, a relic of the past.

“That doesn't matter, people can say whatever they want," Patriots left tackle Matt Light said. “[The media] can keep writing bad things or good things, it won't affect us. We will be all right."

The Patriots are more than all right, especially when Brady is playing at his usually Pro Bowl form.

Brady was stellar against New York's talented pass defense. He made all the key throws when the Patriots needed it, particularly in the second half. Brady threw for 329 yards, three touchdowns and had a 118.4 passer rating.

New England's offensive line didn't allow a sack, and a comfortable Brady picked the Jets apart. He spread his 26 completions among six receivers. Even Chad Ochocinco got into the act with two catches for 65 yards, including a 53-yard play in the second quarter.

Brady continually put pressure on the Jets' offense to respond. Eventually, New York and quarterback Mark Sanchez couldn't keep pace.

Belichick drew up a great scheme on defense. New England entered the game ranked last in total defense and pass defense. But the Patriots came hard after Sanchez.

New England registered five sacks -- 4.5 by defensive end Andre Carter -- and hit Sanchez nine times total. The pressure eventually forced Sanchez into costly errors, such as his pick-six to Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

The Patriots' defensive performance provides momentum for the second half of the season. Sixteen points is tied for the fewest points allowed by New England this season.

"Any given Sunday we have a chance to showcase what you're about defensively," Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington said. "This was one of the biggest stages -- Sunday night football -- and for us to come out and play relatively well, it's monumental. It speaks volumes."

Belichick's explanation for New England's improved defense was simple, as usual.

"We did a good job of winning one-on-one matchups," Belichick said. "There's no magic wand or anything."

The Patriots aren't perfect. But they are significantly better than the rest of the AFC East.

New York is a very flawed team. The offense has a leaky line and is inconsistent in both the running and passing games. Sanchez also has a lot left to prove. The Jets' strength is defense. But even that unit fails to show up every week. The Jets often looked confused and disorganized against the Patriots.

The third-place Bills are 2-4 in their last six games and sinking fast. Buffalo was trounced Sunday by the Dallas Cowboys, 44-7. The Bills’ defense needs a lot of work, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is too streaky for Buffalo to be considered a legitimate threat to win the AFC East. The Bills beat New England in the first meeting. But Buffalo has a lot of work to do to remain in contention by the time these two teams meet again in Week 17.

Jets players, like their head coach, were talking in the locker room as though the AFC East race is over.

"Obviously, there is a lot of frustration," Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. "It was a big goal of ours to go ahead and win this division and we put ourselves in a hole again. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it's unlikely to happen at this point."

The Jets have seen this story unfold before. The Patriots -- thanks to Brady and Belichick -- still own the AFC East.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Here are some initial thoughts on the New England Patriots' convincing 37-16 victory over the New York Jets:

What it means: The Patriots (6-3) swept the Jets for the first time since 2007 and took control of the AFC East division. New England essentially holds a two-game lead over the Jets with seven games left. In addition, the Patriots have the NFL's easiest remaining schedule. New England's next six games are against teams with losing records. New York (5-4) missed a golden opportunity to take first place in the division. Now, barring an unexpected collapse by New England, the Jets most likely will fight for a wild card with several AFC teams down the stretch.

Tom was terrific: The Jets came in playing some of their best defense of the season during their three-game winning streak. But New York still couldn't solve Brady, who made key throws when New England needed it the most. Brady finished with 312 yards and three touchdowns. Brady found his favorite red-zone target, tight end Rob Gronkowski, for two of those scores. New England protected Brady well and didn't allow a sack in the game.

Jets' offense struggles: New York was expected to have an advantage against New England's last-rated defense. But quarterback Mark Sanchez and and the offense struggled. The Jets couldn't protect the quarterback or move the ball efficiently. Sanchez was sacked five times, including 4.5 sacks by Patriots defensive end Andre Carter. The Jets also had three turnovers, including Sanchez's pick six to linebacker Rob Ninkovich in the fourth quarter.

Ochocinco sighting: New England receiver Chad Ochocinco had his most productive game as a Patriot. Ochocinco caught two passes for 65 yards, which included a 53-yard catch in the first half. The Patriots traded for Ochocinco this summer to provide big plays to the offense. Perhaps this is a sign that he can turn his season around.

What's next: The Jets have to get over this loss quickly. They have a short week and travel to play the Denver Broncos (4-5) on Thursday night. The Patriots will begin the easy part of their schedule. They will host the Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) next week on "Monday Night Football." New England doesn't play a team with a winning record until Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills (5-4).