Chad Ochocinco tried out for Miami

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

MIAMI -- Receiver Chad Ochocinco had a tryout with the Miami Dolphins, who are thin at the position and dropping a lot of passes in offseason drills.

Coach Joe Philbin confirmed Monday that the Dolphins gave Ochocinco a workout. He was released Thursday by the New England Patriots.

"We are going to do our homework. We are going to investigate," Philbin said. "I don't think that it's any different than any position. You always evaluate your roster."

Ochocinco, 34, is a Miami native who has made the Pro Bowl six times, most recently in 2009, but had only a minor role in his lone season with the Patriots, catching 15 passes for 276 yards.

The Dolphins traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears in March for two third-round draft picks, and didn't draft a receiver until the sixth round. Philbin conceded there has been room for improvement in the pass-catching during offseason workouts, including an OTA Monday.

"You would like to have some players make it easy and distinguish themselves, maybe make the picture a little bit clearer," Philbin said. "We have to catch the ball more consistently at every position on offense, because it is not quite where it needs to be."

Marshall's off-the-field issues wore on the Dolphins, and they might consider Ochocinco too high-maintenance. His antics have sometimes annoyed his teammates and coaches, and his touchdown celebrations led to an NFL crackdown.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe